Prize exchange system and prize exchange method

Abstract

To allow a player to efficiently exchange the number of game media acquired by the player for a general prize according to a traffic line of the player toward a general prize put-out device.SOLUTION: A management device 50 stores continuous transaction propriety data indicating propriety of continuous transactions by a general prize put-out device 90 in correspondence with a card ID, and notifies the general prize put-out device 90 of the number of owned balls and the number of stored balls associated with the card ID, and the continuous transaction propriety data associated with the card ID upon receipt of the card ID from the general prize put-out device 90. The general prize put-out device 90 acquires the number of owned balls and the number of stored balls associated with the card ID, and the continuous transaction propriety data associated with the card ID from the management device 50 upon receipt of the card ID, and executes control on whether to approve the continuous transactions of general prizes on the basis of the acquired continuous transaction propriety data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a prize exchange system and a prize exchange method that can efficiently exchange the number of game media acquired by a player for general prizes according to the player's movement toward a general prize payout device. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, in gaming establishments such as pachinko parlors, employees have been responsible for prize exchange, but recently, an operation in which players themselves exchange game media for prizes (hereinafter referred to as "self-operation") has been adopted. When a player holds a card, which is a storage medium, over a reader / writer unit of a prize management device installed in a prize counter at the gaming establishment and exchanges the game media associated with the card for a special prize or the like, the remaining game media are associated with the card.

[0003] Thereafter, by holding the card over the general prize payout device, the player can pay out general prizes from the general prize payout device within the number of game media associated with the card (see, for example, Patent Document 1). For example, if 100 balls at a 4 yen rate are associated with the card, the player can purchase two consecutive bottles of beverages by repeatedly operating the prize selection button for tea, each bottle containing 50 balls. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-016479 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, there are cases where a player wants to temporarily stop playing on a gaming machine and go to the general prize payout device to exchange for just one bottle of tea. In such a case, assuming that the player will continue to purchase general prizes, the player must exchange for one bottle of tea and then perform the operation to end the prize exchange for a general prize. Since players often want to continue playing as quickly as possible, it is not desirable to force the player to perform the operation to end the prize exchange for a general prize.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the above-mentioned conventional technology, and aims to provide a prize exchange system and prize exchange method that can efficiently exchange the number of gaming media acquired by a player for general prizes according to the player's movement toward the general prize payout device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a prize exchange system having each machine device arranged in tandem with a gaming machine so as to be able to communicate with the gaming machine, a management device that manages the number of gaming media acquired by playing on the gaming machine in association with the identification information of the storage medium, a prize management device that exchanges at least the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium for prizes, and a general prize payout device that pays out a plurality of general prizes stored in a plurality of storage sections within the range of the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium, wherein the management device performs continuous transactions by the general prize payout device in association with the identification information of the storage medium. and a notification means for notifying the number of gaming media and continuous transaction availability information associated with the identification information of the storage medium when the identification information of the storage medium is received from the general prize payout device, wherein the general prize payout device is characterized by having an acquisition means for acquiring the number of gaming media and continuous transaction availability information associated with the identification information of the storage medium from the management device when the identification information of the storage medium is received, and a control means for controlling whether or not continuous transactions of general prizes are permitted based on the continuous transaction availability information acquired by the acquisition means.

[0008] In addition, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the management device further comprises a setting means for setting the continuous transaction possibility information stored in the storage means to continuous transaction possible once the storage medium has been exchanged for a prize by the prize management device.

[0009] Further, in the present invention, the control means may be configured to: Without returning the storage medium When continuous transactions are possible, the system is characterized by controlling the process of accepting the selection operation of general prizes and the process of paying out the selected general prizes repeatedly within the range of the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium.

[0010] In addition, in the above invention, the setting means sets the continuous transaction feasibility information stored in the storage means to continuous transaction not possible if the storage medium has not been exchanged for a prize by the prize management device.

[0011] In addition, in the above invention, the control means controls the storage medium to be returned if the continuous transaction feasibility information acquired by the acquisition means indicates that continuous transactions are not possible and if the payout process for the general prize selected in response to the acceptance process for the selection operation of the general prize is performed within the range of the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium.

[0012] In addition, in the above invention, the present invention is characterized in that the management device is equipped with a subtraction means that subtracts the number of gaming media associated with the special prize exchanged for a prize in the prize management device from the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium, and subtracts the number of gaming media associated with the general prize from the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium each time a general prize is paid out by the general prize payout device.

[0013] The present invention also provides a prize exchange system having each machine device arranged alongside a gaming machine so as to be able to communicate with the gaming machine, a management device that manages the number of gaming media acquired by playing on the gaming machine in association with the identification information of the storage medium, a prize management device that exchanges at least the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium for prizes, and a general prize payout device that pays out a plurality of general prizes stored in a plurality of storage units within the range of the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium, and the management device associates the identification information of the storage medium with the number of general prizes stored in the storage units and pays out the number of general prizes stored in the storage units within the range of the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium after the exchange process by the prize management device. The general prize payout device is characterized in that it is equipped with a storage means for storing exchange history information indicating whether or not a general prize is being traded, and a notification means for notifying the number of gaming media and exchange history information associated with the identification information of the storage medium when the identification information of the storage medium is received from the general prize payout device, and the general prize payout device is characterized in that it is equipped with an acquisition means for acquiring the number of gaming media and exchange history information associated with the identification information of the storage medium from the management device when the identification information of the storage medium is received, and a control means for controlling whether or not to allow continuous transactions of general prizes based on the exchange history information acquired by the acquisition means.

[0014] The present invention also provides a prize exchange method in a prize exchange system having each machine device arranged alongside a gaming machine so as to be able to communicate with the gaming machine, a management device that manages the number of gaming media acquired through play on the gaming machine by associating it with the identification information of the storage medium, a prize management device that exchanges at least the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium for prizes, and a general prize payout device that pays out a plurality of general prizes stored in a plurality of storage sections within the range of the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium, wherein the management device associates a continuous transaction information with the identification information of the storage medium and indicates whether continuous transactions are possible using the general prize payout device. The system is characterized by including a storage process for storing the possibility information in a memory unit; a notification process for notifying the number of gaming media and continuous transaction possibility information associated with the identification information of the storage medium when the management device receives the identification information of the storage medium from the general prize payout device; an acquisition process for acquiring the number of gaming media and continuous transaction possibility information associated with the identification information of the storage medium when the general prize payout device receives the identification information of the storage medium from the management device; and a control process for the general prize payout device to control whether or not to allow continuous transactions of general prizes based on the continuous transaction possibility information acquired by the acquisition process.

[0015] The present invention also provides a prize exchange method in a prize exchange system having each machine device arranged alongside a gaming machine so as to be able to communicate with the gaming machine, a management device that manages the number of gaming media acquired through play on the gaming machine by associating it with the identification information of the storage medium, a prize management device that exchanges at least the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium for prizes, and a general prize payout device that pays out a plurality of general prizes stored in a plurality of storage units within the range of the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium, wherein the management device determines whether the storage medium has been exchanged by the prize management device in association with the identification information of the storage medium. The general prize payout device is characterized by comprising: a storage process for storing exchange history information indicating whether or not a general prize has been traded; a notification process for notifying the management device of the number of gaming media and exchange history information associated with the identification information of the storage medium when the management device receives the identification information of the storage medium from the general prize payout device; an acquisition process for acquiring the number of gaming media and exchange history information associated with the identification information of the storage medium from the management device when the general prize payout device receives the identification information of the storage medium; and a control process for the general prize payout device to control whether or not to allow continuous trading of general prizes based on the exchange history information acquired by the acquisition process. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, the number of game media acquired by a player can be efficiently exchanged for general prizes according to the player's movement toward the general prize payout device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overview of the prize exchange system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the system configuration of the prize exchange system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the external configuration of the inter-machine card processing machine and the gaming machine shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the inter-machine card processing machine shown in FIG. [Figure 5]FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the device status data and card data shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the gaming machine shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the management device illustrated in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the card management data, the device management data, and the member management data shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the prize inventory data and the continuous transaction availability data shown in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the external configuration of the self-service prize management device shown in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the self-service prize management device shown in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the prize master, the holding value data, and the prize inventory data shown in FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed on the display operation unit shown in FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the external configuration of the general prize payout device shown in FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the general prize payout device shown in FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the prize inventory data, the prize master, and the consecutive transaction availability data shown in FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the self-service prize management device shown in FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the general prize payout device shown in FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overview of a prize exchange system according to a modified example. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an outline of the prize exchange system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 shows an example of the payout conditions set when exchanging for a prize according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The prize exchange system and prize exchange method according to this embodiment will be described in detail below.

[0019] In this specification, "reserved balls" refers to data indicating gaming media acquired by a player through gaming, which can only be used again for gaming on the same day (before the gaming establishment's closing time). "Number of possessed balls" refers to the number of gaming media acquired by a player through gaming. "Saved balls" refers to data indicating gaming media deposited by a player at a gaming establishment, which can be used again for gaming from the next day onwards (after the gaming establishment's closing time). "Saved balls" refers to the number of gaming media deposited by a player at a gaming establishment. Reserved balls are available to both regular players and member players, and are used when a gaming machine is moved, for example. In principle, only member players can use saved balls, and are used when acquired gaming media are used to play a gaming machine from the next day onwards. "Number of gaming balls" refers to the number of playable balls available to a player for gaming. "Prizes" are prizes that can be exchanged for the number of gaming media acquired by players, and include special prizes and general prizes. "Special prizes" refer to items such as gold, lighter stones, bracelets, and mechanical pencil leads that can be exchanged for money and are handled by three-store operators. "General prizes" refer to items such as sweets, drinks, and detergents, excluding special prizes.

[0020] <Outline of the prize exchange system according to the first embodiment> First, an outline of the prize exchange system according to the present embodiment 1 will be described. Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an outline of the prize exchange system according to the present embodiment 1. Here, the explanation will be centered on the case where a member player (hereinafter simply referred to as "player") inserts a member's card into the self-service prize management device 60 and exchanges his / her saved balls for general prizes. However, the same applies when a general player inserts a general card into the self-service prize management device 60 and exchanges his / her balls for general prizes.

[0021] Figure 1(a) is an explanatory diagram for explaining the process by which a player exchanges saved balls for special prizes using the self-service prize management device 60, and then inserts the card into the general prize payout device 90 to exchange them for general prizes. As shown in Figure 1(a), when a card is held over the self-service prize management device 60 (S1), the self-service prize management device 60 reads the card ID stored on the card and obtains the number of held and saved balls associated with the card ID from the management device 50. Here, it is assumed that 2,975 saved balls of Ball 1 (4 yen) are associated with the card ID.

[0022] When the self prize management device 60 receives a special prize exchange operation (S2), it instructs the special prize payout device 80, described below, to pay out a special prize (S3). For example, if 2875 balls out of 2975 stored balls are to be exchanged for a special prize, and the grand prize can be exchanged for 2000 balls, the medium prize can be exchanged for 625 balls, and the small prize can be exchanged for 250 balls, then an instruction to pay out one grand prize, one medium prize, and one small prize is given to the special prize payout device 80. As a result, the remaining stored balls become 100 (=2975-2875) balls.

[0023] The card can then be removed from the card reader / writer 61 of the self-service prize management device 60 (S4), and the "card ID" and "prize exchange completed" are notified to the management device 50 (S5). Upon receiving the "card ID" and "prize exchange completed" notification, the management device 50 sets the status of this card ID to "continuous transaction permitted," enabling the card to be continuously exchanged for a general prize (S6). This will be explained in detail later, but the status of whether or not consecutive transactions are permitted associated with the card ID in the consecutive transaction permit / prohibit data 55f stored in the memory unit 55 of the management device 50 is set to "permitted."

[0024] Thereafter, when the player inserts a card into the general prize payout device 90 (S7), the general prize payout device 90 notifies the management device 50 of the card ID (S8) and obtains the number of held balls and the number of saved balls associated with the card ID from the management device 50. Here, it is assumed that a prize exchange for a special prize has been made, and that the saved balls of ball 1 (4 yen), "100 balls," are associated with the card ID.

[0025] The management device 50 also transmits continuous transaction availability data indicating "continuous transaction available" to the general prize payout device 90 (S9). When the general prize payout device 90 receives continuous transaction availability data indicating continuous transaction available from the management device 50, it enters a continuous transaction available state, allowing continuous payout of general prizes (S10). If a prize is exchanged for a special prize at the self-service prize management device 60, there is a high possibility that the player will leave the gaming facility after exchanging the prize for a general prize, so continuous transactions are allowed. Here, the management device 50 sequentially subtracts the number of balls required for a general exchange from the stored balls, and dispensing "tea," which can be exchanged for a prize with 50 balls, and "milk," which can also be exchanged for a prize with 50 balls.

[0026] Thereafter, the general prize payout device 90 notifies the management device 50 of the prize code and number of the general prizes paid out, and the management device 50 updates the inventory data of the general prizes that it manages based on the prize code and number of the general prizes paid out.

[0027] 1(b) is an explanatory diagram for explaining the process by which a player ejects a card during a game and exchanges the balls held or saved on the card for a general prize. As shown in FIG. 1(b), if a player wants to purchase "tea" during a game, the player presses the card return button on the inter-machine card processing device 10 to return the card (S11). The player then goes to the general prize payout device 90 and inserts the card into the card insertion slot of the general prize payout device 90 (S12).

[0028] When the general prize payout device 90 reads the card ID from the card, it notifies the management device 50 of the card ID (S13). The management device 50 transmits the number of held balls and the number of saved balls associated with the card ID. For example, it is assumed that saved balls of ball 1 (4 yen), "1000 balls", are associated with the card ID.

[0029] The management device 50 also transmits consecutive transaction permission data indicating "consecutive transactions are not permitted" to the general prize payout device 90 (S14). When the general prize payout device 90 receives consecutive transaction permission data indicating consecutive transactions are not permitted from the management device 50, it enters a state in which a single transaction is permitted, preventing consecutive payouts of general prizes (S15). This is because the card has not been exchanged for a special prize in the self-service prize management device 60. If a prize exchange for a special prize has not been performed in the self-service prize management device 60, consecutive transactions are prohibited because there is a high probability that the player will exchange one prize for a general prize during play and then continue playing. Here, the management device 50 sequentially subtracts the number of balls required for a general exchange from the stored balls, dispensing "tea," which can be exchanged for a prize for 50 balls.

[0030] In this way, in the prize exchange system of this embodiment 1, the management device 50 stores continuous transaction feasibility data indicating whether continuous transactions are possible using the general prize payout device 90, in correspondence with the card ID, and when a card ID is received from the general prize payout device 90, it notifies the general prize payout device 90 of the number of balls held and the number of balls saved associated with the card ID and the continuous transaction feasibility data associated with the card ID.When the general prize payout device 90 receives a card ID, it obtains the number of balls held and the number of balls saved associated with the card ID and the continuous transaction feasibility data associated with the card ID from the management device 50, and is configured to control whether or not to allow continuous transactions of general prizes based on the obtained continuous transaction feasibility data.Therefore, depending on the player's movement toward the general prize payout device 90 (whether from the self-prize management device 60 or from the gaming machine 20), the number of balls held and the number of balls saved acquired by the player can be efficiently exchanged for general prizes. Although the case where saved balls are exchanged for prizes is shown here, the same can be done when exchanging owned balls for prizes or when exchanging the combined total of owned and saved balls for prizes.

[0031] <System configuration> Next, the system configuration of the prize exchange system according to this embodiment 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the system configuration of the prize exchange system according to this embodiment 1. As shown in FIG. 2, a gaming facility is equipped with a plurality of gaming machines 20 and an inter-machine card processing device 10 provided corresponding to each gaming machine 20. The inter-machine card processing device 10 is connected to a communication line, which is an in-flight network, via an island controller 30. The island controller 30, a management device 50, a self-service prize management device 60, and a general prize payout device 90 are connected to the communication line. The self-service prize management device 60 is also connected to a special prize payout device 80 so as to be able to communicate with it.

[0032] Here, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 corresponds to the "each machine device" in the claims, the management device 50 corresponds to the "management device" in the claims, the self-prize management device 60 corresponds to the "prize management device" in the claims, and the general prize payout device 90 is associated with the "general prize payout device" in the claims.

[0033] The gaming machine 20 is a device in which game balls enclosed within the device are shot onto a game board. These game balls are physical "balls" used in the game, and are different from the "game balls" that the gaming machine 20 treats as data. The game board of the gaming machine 20 is provided with multiple prize areas (prize openings), and a predetermined number of game balls are awarded as prize balls when a game ball passes through a prize area. The game board is also provided with a predetermined number of start areas (start openings), and a predetermined lottery is held when a game ball passes through a start area. If the lottery results in a jackpot, a predetermined movable member or the like is activated, thereby increasing the probability of the game ball passing through the aforementioned prize area or another start area, thereby providing an advantage in the game. An area may also serve as both a start area and a prize area.

[0034] Each of the winning areas is provided with a winning sensor for detecting the passage of a gaming ball into the winning area, and the winning sensor detects the passage (winning) of a gaming ball shot into the winning area. The control unit of the gaming machine 20 also has a prize ball memory for storing the number of gaming balls to be awarded as prize balls for each winning area, and a playable number memory for indicating the number of gaming balls. The control unit of the gaming machine 20 also periodically transmits the number of gaming balls to the machine-to-machine card processing machine 10.

[0035] When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives a deposit from a player, it associates the prepaid value associated with the amount of the deposit with a card ID stored inside the machine. This prepaid value can be used to lend game balls. The inter-machine card processing machine 10 can also accept the insertion of a card associated with prepaid value, owned balls, saved balls, etc. Then, at the end of a game, it ejects the card associated with the prepaid value, owned balls, saved balls, etc. and returns it to the player. The inter-machine card processing machine 10 also transmits a history of operations such as deposits, card insertions, and card ejections to the management device 50.

[0036] When a predetermined number of game balls are shot onto the game board, the gaming machine 20 transmits out data to the inter-machine card processor 10. Furthermore, when a game ball passes through a winning area (so-called winning) and a predetermined number of prize balls are added to the game balls, the gaming machine 20 transmits safe data to the inter-machine card processor 10. Furthermore, when a special state such as a jackpot occurs during play, the gaming machine 20 transmits special prize data indicating the occurrence of such state to the inter-machine card processor 10.

[0037] The out data corresponds to the number of balls inserted, which is the number of balls inserted by the player onto the gaming board. The safe data corresponds to the number of balls won as a result of winning. The special prize data indicates the status of the gaming machine 20, such as a jackpot. Each piece of data is transmitted to the management device 50 via the inter-machine card processing device 10, and the management device 50 can obtain the operation history of the gaming machine 20 by accumulating the out data, safe data, and special prize data as operating information.

[0038] The inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts deposits, lends gaming balls, and communicates with the management device 50 and the gaming machines 20. When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts bills inserted by a player, it sends a deposit notification including the deposit amount to the management device 50, thereby adding the prepaid value equivalent to the deposit amount to the prepaid value managed by the management device 50. Then, when a predetermined ball lending operation is performed, it sends a ball lending request to the management device 50, subtracts the prepaid value managed by the management device 50, and notifies the gaming machine 20 of the number corresponding to the subtracted prepaid value, which is added to the number of gaming balls.

[0039] When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts the insertion of a card, it sends a card insertion notification to the management device 50. Furthermore, when the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives the prepaid value, the number of held balls, and the number of saved balls from the management device 50, it stores the prepaid value, the number of held balls, and the number of saved balls. Then, when it receives and stores the number of held balls, it sends a request to the management device 50 to subtract held balls, thereby clearing the number of held balls managed by the management device 50 to zero.

[0040] When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives a held ball replay operation, it subtracts a predetermined number from the number of held balls it manages, notifies the gaming machine 20 of the number corresponding to the subtracted held balls, and adds it to the number of game balls. Also, when the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives a saved ball replay operation, it sends a saved ball replay request to the management device 50, thereby subtracting a predetermined number from the number of saved balls managed by the management device 50, notifies the gaming machine 20 of the number corresponding to the subtracted saved balls, and adds it to the number of game balls.

[0041] When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives a card return operation, it sends a ball addition request including the number of balls held to the management device 50, and after having the management device 50 add the number of balls held, it sends a card ejection notification to the management device 50 and controls the ejection of the card. Note that if a counting operation is received from the gaming machine 20 before the card return operation, the number of game balls is added to the number of balls held.

[0042] The inter-machine card processing device 10 has a function of acquiring a gaming machine ID from the gaming machine 20 and authenticating the gaming machine 20 using the acquired gaming machine ID and an authentication key received from the management device 50. This authentication is performed during opening processing, etc., and the gaming machine 20 becomes playable on the condition that the authentication is successful.

[0043] The inter-machine card processing machine 10 performs various display controls based on the status of the gaming machine 20, and transmits the status of the gaming machine 20 to the management device 50. The inter-machine card processing machine 10 stores the number of gaming balls notified from the gaming machine 20, and periodically notifies the management device 50 of the number of gaming balls and the number of balls in hand.

[0044] The island controller 30 is a device that bundles together a group of gaming machines 20 and inter-machine card processors 10 installed on the gaming island, and relays various information to the management device 50.

[0045] When the management device 50 receives a card insertion notification from the inter-machine card processing device 10, it manages the card ID of the inserted card in association with the inter-machine card processing device 10, and transmits the prepaid value and number of held balls associated with the card ID to the inter-machine card processing device 10. In addition, if the card ID indicated in the card insertion notification is the card ID of a membership card, it transmits stored ball replay data to the inter-machine card processing device 10.

[0046] In addition, when the management device 50 receives a request to subtract balls held from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, it clears the number of balls held, and when it receives a request to add balls held from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, it adds the number of balls held indicated in the request to add balls held to the number of balls held.

[0047] Furthermore, when the management device 50 receives a ball lending request from the inter-machine card processing device 10, it subtracts a predetermined value from the prepaid value associated with the card ID and transmits ball lending permission to the inter-machine card processing device 10. When the management device 50 receives a saved ball replay request, it transmits saved ball replay data to the inter-machine card processing device 10.

[0048] The management device 50 also acquires gaming machine IDs from the inter-machine card processing device 10 and manages the gaming machines 20 installed in its own parlor. It also acquires authentication keys for authenticating the gaming machines 20 set in its own parlor from an authentication key management center (not shown) outside the parlor, and distributes the authentication keys to the inter-machine card processing device 10.

[0049] The management device 50 also manages the member management data of members who have registered with the gaming establishment. Specifically, the management device 50 manages the number of balls, points, PIN number, name, etc. in association with the card ID of the member card issued to the member.

[0050] Furthermore, when the management device 50 receives a card insertion notification from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, it transmits stored ball replay data including the number of stored balls and the PIN number associated with the card ID indicated in the card insertion notification to the inter-machine card processing machine 10. Furthermore, when the management device 50 receives a stored ball replay request from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, it subtracts a predetermined number from the number of stored balls associated with the card ID indicated in the stored ball replay request, and transmits stored ball replay data including the number of stored balls after the subtraction to the inter-machine card processing machine 10.

[0051] Furthermore, when the management device 50 receives the card ID of a general card from the self-prize management device 60, it notifies the self-prize management device 60 of the number of balls held and prepaid value associated with this card ID. If this card ID is the card ID of a membership card, it notifies the self-prize management device 60 of the number of balls held, the number of saved balls and the prepaid value associated with this card ID.

[0052] In addition, when the management device 50 receives a request for prize inventory data from the self-prize management device 60, it notifies the self-prize management device 60 of the prize inventory data.

[0053] Furthermore, when the management device 50 receives notification of the "card ID" and "exchange of special prize" from the self-service prize management device 60, it sets the "continuous transaction possible" field associated with the card ID in the continuous transaction possible / not possible data to "possible." This is because there is a high possibility that the player will leave the gaming establishment after exchanging the prize for a general prize. If the special prize is not exchanged in the self-service prize management device 60, the "continuous transaction possible / not possible" field associated with the card ID in the continuous transaction possible / not possible data will be set to "not possible." This is because there is a high possibility that the player will continue playing after exchanging the prize for a bottle of "tea," for example.

[0054] Furthermore, when the management device 50 receives a "card ID" from the general prize payout device 90, it notifies the general prize payout device 90 of the number of held balls and the number of saved balls associated with this card ID, and the consecutive transaction availability data associated with the card ID. The general prize payout device 90 controls whether consecutive transactions of general prizes are possible or not based on the consecutive transaction availability data.

[0055] The self-prize management device 60 is a terminal device for prize exchange installed next to the prize exchange counter in the gaming parlor, has a self-function that allows the player to select a prize themselves, and performs the prize exchange process for the balls they own and the balls they have saved. When the self-prize management device 60 reads a card ID from a membership card or a card ID from a registered mobile terminal, it transmits the card ID to the management device 50 and requests the number of balls they own, the number of saved balls, and the balance of prepaid value for that card ID, as well as data on whether or not continuous transactions are possible associated with the card ID.

[0056] Furthermore, when the self-prize management device 60 reads the card ID from a general card, it transmits the card ID to the management device 50 and requests the number of balls held and the balance of prepaid value for that card ID, as well as data on whether continuous transactions are possible associated with the card ID. When the self-prize management device 60 receives the number of balls held, the number of saved balls, and the prepaid value associated with the card ID from the management device 50, it stores the number of balls held, the number of saved balls, and the prepaid value in the held value data.

[0057] Furthermore, when exchanging for a special prize, the self prize management device 60 notifies the special prize payout device 80 of a payout instruction including the prize code and number of the selected prize. The special prize payout device 80 is a device that can store and pay out special prizes.

[0058] When the special prize payout device 80 receives a special prize payout instruction from the self prize management device 60, it pays out the corresponding special prize.

[0059] The general prize payout device 90 is provided with multiple storage compartments, and prizes are stored in each storage compartment. Once a prize is selected, the prize is transported from the storage compartment in which the selected prize is stored to the outlet. Specifically, a transport platform (elevator) for transporting the prize is moved to the corresponding storage compartment, and the prize stored in the storage compartment is loaded onto the elevator. The elevator is then moved to the outlet, and the prize loaded onto the elevator is paid out to the outlet.

[0060] Furthermore, when the general prize payout device 90 accepts a card, it reads the card ID stored on the card and sends it to the management device 50. When it receives the number of balls held and the number of balls stored from the management device 50, it exchanges the prize for a general prize within the range of the number of balls held and the number of balls stored. If the "Continuous transaction possible or not" column of the continuous transaction possible or not data received from the management device 50 is "Yes", it does not return the card when one transaction is completed, but controls so that continuous transactions can continue. On the other hand, if the "Continuous transaction possible or not" column of the continuous transaction possible or not data is "No", it returns the card when one transaction is completed.

[0061] Next, we will explain the ball lending process in the prize exchange system according to this embodiment 1. When a player performs a ball lending operation on the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 sends a message addressed to the local address of the management device 50. This message includes the card ID of the card inserted into the inter-machine card processing machine 10, an address or any identification information that identifies the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that is the sender, and a ball lending request.

[0062] When the management device 50 receives a message including a ball lending request, it updates the card management data by subtracting a predetermined value (for example, 5 units, which represents 500 yen when 1 unit is 100 yen) from the prepaid value associated with the card ID in the message, and transmits ball lending permission to the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that sent the message. The inter-machine card processing machine 10 that has received the ball lending permission transmits an addition signal to the gaming machine 20 requesting that the number corresponding to the subtracted prepaid value (for example, "125") be added to the number of game balls.

[0063] The gaming machine 20 that has received the addition signal adds up the number of gaming balls and transmits the added number of gaming balls to the inter-machine card processing machine 10. The inter-machine card processing machine 10 compares the sum of the number of gaming balls before the addition and the number of balls lent with the number of gaming balls after the addition, and determines whether the addition of the number of gaming balls has been performed appropriately.

[0064] Next, we will explain the held ball replay process in the prize exchange system according to this embodiment 1. When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts the insertion of a general card or a membership card, it sends a message addressed to the local address of the management device 50. This message includes the card ID of the card inserted into the inter-machine card processing machine 10, an address or arbitrary identification information that identifies the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that is the sender, information for identifying the rate of the inter-machine card processing machine 10, and a card insertion notification.

[0065] When the management device 50 receives a card insertion notification from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, it notifies the inter-machine card processing machine 10 of the number of balls held at the rate specified by the message, out of the balls held associated with the card ID in the message.

[0066] The inter-machine card processing machine 10 stores the number of held balls received from the management device 50. Then, it sends a message to the management device 50 including information specifying the card ID and rate, and a request to subtract held balls. When the management device 50 receives the request to subtract held balls, it clears the number of held balls specified by the card ID and rate to zero. Furthermore, when the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts a request to replay held balls, it subtracts a fixed number from the number of held balls, notifies the gaming machine 20 of the corresponding number, and adds it to the number of game balls.

[0067] When the inter-machine card processing device 10 receives a management transfer request from the gaming machine 20 to transfer its management by making the number of gaming balls of the gaming machine 20 the balls held by the inter-machine card processing device 10, it adds the number of gaming balls indicated in the management transfer request to the balls held by its own device. After that, when it accepts a card return operation, it sends a message including a request to add held balls to the management device 50. This message includes the card ID of the card to be discharged, an address or arbitrary identification information that identifies the inter-machine card processing device 10 that sent it, information for identifying the rate of the inter-machine card processing device 10, the number of held balls, and a request to add held balls.

[0068] When the management device 50 receives the request to add the balls held, it updates the number of balls held at the rate specified by the message to the received value among the balls held associated with the card ID in the message. After that, the inter-machine card processing device 10 sends a card ejection notification to the management device 50 and controls the ejection of the cards.

[0069] Next, we will explain the stored ball replay process in the prize exchange system according to this embodiment 1. When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts a membership card or reads identification information corresponding to the card ID from a mobile terminal that can be used as a membership card, it sends a message addressed to the local address of the management device 50. This message includes the card ID of the card inserted in the inter-machine card processing machine 10 (or identification information corresponding to the card ID read from the mobile terminal), an address or arbitrary identification information that identifies the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that is the sender, information for identifying the rate of the inter-machine card processing machine 10, and a card insertion notification.

[0070] The management device 50 transmits stored ball replay data to the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the data including the PIN associated with the card ID in the message and the number of stored balls at the rate specified by the message.

[0071] The inter-machine card processing machine 10 stores the received saved ball replay data, and is able to accept a saved ball replay operation if the number of saved balls indicated in the saved ball replay data is equal to or greater than the payout unit number of game balls in saved ball replay (saved ball replay unit number, for example, "125 balls").

[0072] When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives a saved ball replay operation for the first time after storing the saved ball replay data, it requests the player to input a password and checks whether the input password matches the password shown in the saved ball replay data.

[0073] If the PIN numbers match, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 sends a message addressed to the local address of the management device 50. This message includes the card ID of the card inserted into the inter-machine card processing machine 10, an address or any identification information that identifies the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that is the sender, information for identifying the rate of the inter-machine card processing machine 10, and a request to replay the saved balls.

[0074] The management device 50 subtracts a predetermined value from the number of stored balls at the rate specified by the message from the stored balls associated with the card ID in the message, and transmits stored ball replay data including the number of stored balls after the subtraction to the machine-to-machine card processing machine 10.

[0075] The inter-machine card processing device 10 receives the stored ball replay data, updates the number of stored balls, and notifies the gaming machine 20 of the number corresponding to the number of stored ball replay units to add it to the number of game balls. It also determines whether the updated number of stored balls is less than the number of stored ball replay units. If the updated number of stored balls is equal to or greater than the number of stored ball replay units, it can accept a stored ball replay operation again, and if it accepts a stored ball replay operation, it sends a stored ball replay request. For the second or subsequent stored ball replay operation, it is not necessary to confirm the PIN. If the updated number of stored balls is less than the number of stored ball replay units, it cannot accept a stored ball replay operation.

[0076] Next, we will explain the transition from held balls to saved balls during the store closing process. The management device 50 checks the number of held balls in the card management data during the store closing process, and if the number of held balls is greater than "0", it adds the number of held balls to the number of saved balls and updates it. After that, the management device 50 clears the number of held balls to zero.

[0077] <External Configuration of the Inter-machine Card Processing Machine 10 and the Gaming Machine 20> Next, we will explain the external configuration of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and gaming machine 20 shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the external configuration of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and gaming machine 20 shown in Fig. 2. In this figure, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that accepts only paper money is shown, but it is also possible to provide a unit that can accept electronic money.

[0078] As shown in Figure 3, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 is provided with a status display unit 11 that displays the status of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 by lighting or flashing a lamp of a predetermined color, a bill insertion slot 12a that accepts various types of bills, a display operation unit 13 such as a touch panel display, and a card insertion slot 14a that accepts cards associated with a card ID.

[0079] The gaming machine 20 is provided with a gaming board, a handle 21 used to release enclosed gaming balls onto the gaming board, and a counting button 22.

[0080] The count button 22 is an operation button for performing a management transfer, which transfers the management of the number of balls that can be dispensed from the gaming machine 20 to the inter-machine card processing machine 10, by subtracting the number of gaming balls in the gaming machine 20 and adding the corresponding number to the balls held by the inter-machine card processing machine 10. In an open gaming machine 20 in which actual gaming balls are dispensed upon winning, this management transfer corresponds to the counting process in which the inter-machine card processing machine 10 counts the dispensed gaming balls and adds them to the balls held.

[0081] <Configuration of the inter-machine card processing machine 10> Next, we will explain the configuration of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 4, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 has a banknote transport unit 12, a display operation unit 13, a reader / writer 14, a communication unit 15, a memory unit 16, a control unit 17, and a game management unit 18.

[0082] The banknote transport unit 12 is a transport unit that transports banknotes inserted through the banknote insertion slot 12a to a banknote storage unit (not shown) while determining the denomination and authenticity of the banknotes. The display operation unit 13 is an input / output device such as a touch panel display that displays various information such as value and accepts various operations such as ball lending operations.

[0083] The reader / writer 14 is a reading unit that reads a card ID from a card inserted into the card insertion slot 14a. The card inserted into the card insertion slot 14a is stored in a card storage unit (not shown) via the reader / writer 14. The communication unit 15 is an interface unit for performing data communication with the management device 50 via the island controller 30.

[0084] The storage unit 16 is a storage device including a hard disk drive, a nonvolatile memory, etc. The storage unit 16 stores device status data 16a and card data 16b.

[0085] The machine status data 16a indicates the status of the inter-machine card processing machine 10. The machine status data 16a includes the machine ID, the gaming machine ID, the game type, etc. The machine ID is identification information for uniquely identifying the machine ID within the gaming parlor. The game type is data indicating the rate set in the machine ID. When gaming balls of multiple rates are handled within the gaming parlor, a game type name is assigned to each rate and managed, such as "Ball 1" for a 4-yen rate ball, "Ball 2" for a 2-yen rate ball, and "Ball 3" for a 1-yen rate ball. The machine ID is stored as the game type. The machine ID is a fixed game type for each section in which the machine ID is installed, or the game type may be changeable by the player.

[0086] The card data 16b is data relating to the card being used by the player. The card data 16b includes a card ID, a PIN number, prepaid value, held balls, saved balls, etc. The card ID is the card ID read by the reader / writer 14. When a card is transported from a card storage section (not shown) to the card insertion slot 14a and then ejected, the card data 16b is updated with the card ID read by the reader / writer 14 during this transport. Also, when a card is transported from the card insertion slot 14a to a card storage section (not shown), the card data 16b is updated with the card ID read by the reader / writer 14 during this transport. The prepaid value indicates the value that can be used for ball lending.

[0087] The gaming management unit 18 is a processing unit that performs processing related to authentication and communication with the gaming machine 20. It is desirable that this gaming management unit 18 be formed on a different board from that of the control unit 17. The gaming management unit 18 has an authentication processing unit 18a, an authentication key management unit 18b, and a gaming machine status management unit 18c. In practice, by loading and executing these programs into a CPU (Central Processing Unit), the authentication processing unit 18a, the authentication key management unit 18b, and the gaming machine status management unit 18c will execute processes corresponding to each of them.

[0088] The authentication processing unit 18a authenticates the gaming machine 20 using the authentication key received from the management device 50. If the authentication is successful, the authentication processing unit 18a transmits an operation permission to the gaming machine 20. If the authentication is unsuccessful, the authentication processing unit 18a prohibits the use of the gaming machine 20. Note that even if the authentication is unsuccessful, the authentication processing unit 18a may be configured to transmit an operation permission to the gaming machine 20 if it is within a predetermined period since the last successful authentication, and not transmit an operation permission to the gaming machine 20 after the predetermined period has elapsed since the last successful authentication, and to prohibit the use of the gaming machine 20.

[0089] The authentication key management unit 18b is a processing unit that manages authentication keys. A usage time is set for each authentication key, and when the cumulative operating time of the gaming machine 20 reaches the usage time of the authentication key, the authentication key becomes unusable. Specifically, the authentication key management unit 18b manages the usage time of the authentication key by using the power-on time of the board on which the gaming management unit 18 is formed as the operating time of the gaming machine 20. When the authentication key becomes unusable, the authentication key management unit 18b obtains a new authentication key from an authentication key management center outside the parlor via the management device 50 and updates the authentication key.

[0090] The gaming machine status management unit 18c is a processing unit that communicates with the gaming machine 20 and manages the status of the gaming machine 20. Specifically, the gaming machine status management unit 18c acquires the gaming machine ID from the gaming machine 20, transmits a request to add to the number of gaming balls by ball lending, transmits a request to switch management from held balls to the number of gaming balls by replaying held balls, transmits a request to add to the number of gaming balls by replaying saved balls, receives game results such as the number of balls inserted and the number of balls paid out in the gaming machine 20, and receives a request to switch management from the number of gaming balls to held balls by counting. Such communication between the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20 uses encrypted communication using a predetermined encryption method.

[0091] The gaming machine status management unit 18c also acquires the status set for the game, such as the current number of gaming balls, start, jackpot, jackpot type, and number of lotteries of the gaming machine 20. The time interval at which the gaming machine status management unit 18c acquires the status of the gaming machine 20 is preferably set shorter than the interval at which gaming balls are shot (used) in the gaming machine 20. Furthermore, once the gaming machine status management unit 18c acquires the number of gaming balls from the gaming machine 20, it passes the number of gaming balls to the control unit 17.

[0092] The timing at which the gaming machine status management unit 18c acquires a new gaming machine ID from the gaming machine 20 is not limited to before opening. The gaming machine status management unit 18c can acquire a gaming machine ID or determine whether to replace the gaming machine 20 when the inter-machine card processing machine 10 is powered on or off, during periodic communication, when processing related to the number of gaming balls (ball lending, replay, counting, etc.) is performed, when returning from an offline state, etc. Furthermore, these timings may be used in combination.

[0093] The control unit 17 is a control unit that performs overall control of the inter-machine card processing machine 10. In practice, the process is executed by loading a program corresponding to the control unit 17 into the CPU and executing it. The data management unit 17a is a processing unit that manages the card data 16b.

[0094] Specifically, when a card is inserted, the data management unit 17a transmits a card insertion notification including the card ID and the inter-machine card processor ID to the management device 50. Furthermore, when the data management unit 17a receives data including a value (at least one of prepaid value, held balls, and saved balls) from the management device 50, it updates the card data 16b with the received value.

[0095] Furthermore, when a bill is inserted into the bill insertion slot 12a, the data management unit 17a transmits a deposit notification to the management device 50, which includes the amount of the inserted bill, the card ID, and the inter-machine card processor ID.

[0096] Furthermore, when a ball lending operation is performed by a player, the data management unit 17a transmits a ball lending request including the card ID and the machine-to-machine card processor ID to the management device 50. If permission to lend balls is received in response to this ball lending request, the data management unit 17a instructs the gaming management unit 18 to subtract the prepaid value of the card data 16b and add a predetermined number of balls to the number of game balls in the gaming machine 20.

[0097] In addition, when the data management unit 17a receives an operation to replay the held balls, it instructs the game management unit 18 to subtract and update the held balls in the card data 16b and add the corresponding number of balls to the number of game balls in the gaming machine 20.

[0098] Furthermore, if the number of saved balls indicated in the card data 16b is equal to or greater than the number of saved ball replay units, the data management unit 17a displays a saved ball replay button on the display operation unit 13, making it possible to accept a saved ball replay operation. When a saved ball replay operation is performed by a player, the data management unit 17a transmits a saved ball replay request including the card ID and the machine-to-machine card processor ID to the management device 50. If saved ball replay data is received in response to this saved ball replay request, the data management unit 17a instructs the gaming management unit 18 to update the number of saved balls in the card data 16b and add the number of balls corresponding to the number of saved ball replay units to the number of game balls in the gaming machine 20. Note that when a saved ball replay operation is performed for the first time, the input of a PIN is required, and a match with the PIN indicated in the card data 16b is a condition for transmitting a saved ball replay request.

[0099] In addition, when the game management unit 18 receives a request to transfer game balls from the game machine 20, the data management unit 17a adds the number of balls instructed by the game management unit 18 to the held balls in the card data 16b to update it.

[0100] Furthermore, when the data management unit 17a receives a card return operation, it sends a ball addition request including the card ID, the inter-machine card processing machine ID, and the number of balls held to the management device 50. Then, after clearing the card data 16b, it sends a card ejection notification to the management device 50 and ejects the card.

[0101] Next, an example of data stored in the memory unit 16 of the inter-machine card processor 10 shown in Fig. 4 will be described. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the own device status data 16a and card data 16b shown in Fig. 4.

[0102] The own device status data 16a shown in Figure 5(a) indicates a state in which the ID of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 is "A101", the gaming machine ID of the connected gaming machine 20 is "B201", and "Ball 1" is set as the game type of the inter-machine card processing machine 10.

[0103] The card data 16b shown in Figure 5(b) indicates that the ID of the card inserted into the machine-to-machine card processing machine 10 is "2015." Here, the first digit of the card ID indicates the type of card, with cards with the first digit "1" being a general card and cards with the first digit "2" being a membership card. The card data 16b also indicates that the PIN number for replaying saved balls is "1234" and the prepaid value is "0" points. Here, the prepaid value points are equivalent to 1 yen per point.

[0104] Furthermore, card data 16b indicates that, in terms of held balls, ball 1 has "0" balls, ball 2 has "0" balls, and ball 3 has "0" balls, and, in terms of stored balls, ball 1 has "2975" balls, ball 2 has "0" balls, and ball 3 has "0" balls.

[0105] <Configuration of gaming machine 20> Next, the configuration of the gaming machine 20 shown in Fig. 2 will be described. Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the gaming machine 20 shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 6, the gaming machine 20 has a communication control unit 23, a performance control unit 24, a game control unit 25, and a game ball control unit 26. The communication control unit 23 is a control unit for controlling data communication with the inter-machine card processing machine 10. Communication with the inter-machine card processing machine 10 uses encrypted communication using a predetermined encryption method.

[0106] When the gaming machine 20 is started up, the communication control unit 23 reads the identification information from the control CPU provided in the game control unit 25 and / or game ball control unit 26, checks whether the identification information is appropriate, and if it is appropriate, establishes communication with the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and goes into standby mode. In the standby mode, if an operation permission is received from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the performance control unit 24, game control unit 25, and game ball control unit 26 are started up and the gaming machine is ready to play.

[0107] The game control unit 25 is a control unit that controls games played by the gaming machine 20. In practice, a program corresponding to the game control unit 25 is loaded into the CPU and executed to execute a process.

[0108] Specifically, the game control unit 25 controls the launch of game balls onto the game board by detecting handle operation, detects game balls that have entered the winning hole on the game board, obtains random numbers (random numbers from 0 to 65535, with numbers assigned to indicate a big win, small win, or loss within a predetermined range) using game balls that have entered the starting hole and draws lots (special and normal patterns), controls movable parts (tulips, etc.) installed on the game board, controls the display of special pattern display devices installed on the game board, detects abnormalities that may indicate fraud (the front frame is open, vibrations are detected, etc.) and notifies the higher-level device, etc.

[0109] A large number of obstacle pins are set on the game board, and game balls launched onto the game board by operating the handle fall between the obstacle pins and either enter a prize hole or a starting hole, or are ejected from the game board through an outlet hole without entering a prize. When a game ball enters a starting hole, a lottery is held, and if a jackpot is awarded, a jackpot game is played in which a predetermined prize hole on the game board is controlled to be open multiple times, and by making it easier for game balls to enter these prize holes, prize balls are awarded to the player.

[0110] Furthermore, jackpot games include bonus jackpot games that grant players a specified bonus game after the jackpot game ends. Bonus jackpot games include probability-changing jackpots and time-saving jackpots. Probability-changing jackpots and time-saving jackpots grant probability-changing and time-saving games as bonus games, respectively, after a jackpot. Time-saving games are bonus games that increase the number of draws per unit time by shortening the fluctuation time (the time from the start of the lottery process to the display of the results) of the normal pattern lottery (the lottery for opening and closing the movable member described above) and / or the special pattern lottery (the jackpot lottery resulting from the winning of a game ball described above), thereby increasing the number of draws per unit time and increasing the probability of winning a jackpot per unit time. This bonus game may also include normal pattern probability fluctuation, which increases the probability of winning a normal pattern. Time-saving games resulting from a time-saving jackpot end when the special pattern lottery has been drawn a specified number of times after the jackpot. Probability-changing games will be described later.

[0111] The game control unit 25 has a probability variation function. This function controls the random number range for the next jackpot lottery (typically by approximately 10 times) when the lottery result falls within a specific random number range for the jackpot. The probability variation game involves drawing a special symbol using this changed probability. The probability variation game continues until the next jackpot is won. The probability variation game and time-saving game may be simultaneously offered. However, to prevent unexpected losses to the gaming parlor, if a player acquires a certain number of game media after the probability variation game or time-saving game has started, the game may be stopped (the player's card may be temporarily ejected and the player may be requested to exchange for a prize or move to another machine). In this case, the gaming machine 20 counts the number of game media after the probability variation game state has begun, and when this count reaches a predetermined value, game stop control is performed, such as stopping the release of game balls.

[0112] The effect control unit 24 is a control unit that controls the effects during play, and has an effect symbol lottery unit 24a and an effect lottery unit 24b. In practice, by loading these programs into the CPU and executing them, the effect symbol lottery unit 24a and the effect lottery unit 24b will execute processes corresponding to them, respectively.

[0113] The effect pattern lottery unit 24a performs lottery (specifically, whether to stop the display at 7, 7, 7) for effect patterns (patterns to be displayed on effect pattern display devices such as display devices on the game board) based on the special pattern lottery in the game control unit 25.

[0114] The effect selection unit 24b selects the type of effect to be performed before the result of the selection based on the effect symbols is displayed (such as a character appearing to perform a reach effect). The effect is set so that the effect selected differs depending on the main selection result.

[0115] The effect control unit 24 stores effect data for each effect. Furthermore, the effect control unit 24 controls the display of the effect pattern display device, and when an effect is executed, the effect data is superimposed on the background pattern data to display the effect. Furthermore, when the probability fluctuates, background color data different from that in the normal state is set.

[0116] The game ball control unit 26 is a control unit that controls the number of game balls. In practice, a program corresponding to the game ball control unit 26 is loaded into the CPU and executed to execute the process. The playable number management unit 26a is a management unit that manages the playable number, i.e., the number of game balls.

[0117] Specifically, the game ball control unit 26 stores the number of game balls in a playable number memory, subtracts "1" from the number of game balls each time a game ball is fired, and adds the number of prize balls won by winning to the number of game balls. Also, when the number of balls is notified by the inter-machine card processing machine 10, it adds the notified number of balls to the number of game balls and sends a confirmation signal to the inter-machine card processing machine 10 indicating that the number has been added to the number of game balls. The game ball control unit 26 can also control cleaning of the game balls (circulating balls) enclosed in the game machine 20.

[0118] Furthermore, the game ball control unit 26 periodically transmits the number of game balls stored in the playable number memory to the machine-to-machine card processing machine 10. In this case, the game ball control unit 26 continues to update the number of game balls according to the game status without clearing the contents of the playable number memory to zero, and transmits the number of game balls at the time of data acquisition to the machine-to-machine card processing machine 10.

[0119] The gaming machine 20 is also provided with a counting button 22, and a signal indicating that the counting button 22 has been pressed is input to the gaming ball control unit 26. The gaming ball control unit 26 detects the pressing of the counting button 22, and if the time from when the detection signal rises to when it falls is less than a certain time, it sends a management transfer request to the inter-machine card processing machine 10 along with data on the number of gaming balls in increments of a certain number (for example, 100 balls per operation). Then, it subtracts (invalidates) the number of balls that have been transferred to the management of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 from the number of gaming balls. Furthermore, if the pressing of the counting button 22 is detected and no fall is detected for a predetermined time or longer after the detection signal rises, it sends a management transfer request to the inter-machine card processing machine 10 along with data on the number of gaming balls in increments of a certain number (for example, 200 balls per 5 seconds) every time the detection signal remains in an up state for a certain time. Then, it subtracts (invalidates) the number of balls that have been transferred to the management of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 from the number of gaming balls. When subtracting from the number of game balls, possible methods include decrementing the value to be subtracted from the value of 1 stored in memory, or updating the value stored in memory with the value after subtraction and deleting or logically deleting the value before subtraction to invalidate it, but there are no particular limitations as long as the value after subtraction can be identified.

[0120] The game control unit 25 and the game ball control unit 26 are each configured on a separate board. The game control board on which the game control unit 25 is configured and the game ball control board on which the game ball control unit 26 is configured each have their own unique ID. The gaming machine 20 combines the ID of the game control board and the ID of the game ball control board and uses this as the gaming machine ID.

[0121] <Configuration of management device 50> Next, a description will be given of the configuration of the management device 50 shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the management device 50 shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 7, the management device 50 is connected to a display unit 51 and an input unit 52, and has an external network communication unit 53, a store network communication unit 54, a storage unit 55, and a control unit 56.

[0122] The display unit 51 is a display device such as an LCD panel or display device. The input unit 52 is an input device such as a keyboard or mouse. The external network communication unit 53 is an interface unit for data communication with an authentication key management center (not shown) via an external network. The store network communication unit 54 is an interface unit for data communication with the island controller 30, self-prize management device 60, and general prize payout device 90 via communication lines within the gaming store.

[0123] The memory unit 55 is a memory device such as a hard disk drive or nonvolatile memory, and stores card management data 55a, device management data 55b, member management data 55c, prize inventory data 55d, and continuous transaction availability data 55e.

[0124] The card management data 55a is data that associates the card ID with the balance of prepaid value, the number of balls held, the number of balls saved, etc. The device management data 55b is data related to the devices installed in the gaming parlor. This device management data 55b includes the machine-to-machine card processing machine ID, the installation location, the gaming machine number, the gaming machine ID, the model data of the gaming machine 20, etc. The member management data 55c is data that associates the card ID of the membership card issued to the member with the member's name, saved ball information, etc.

[0125] The prize inventory data 55d is data that manages the inventory of all prizes, including special prizes and general prizes. The consecutive transaction feasibility data 55e is data that associates the prize exchange status and whether consecutive transactions are possible with the card ID. The prize exchange status is "exchanged" if the prize has already been exchanged for a special prize, and "not yet" if the prize has not yet been exchanged for a special prize. The consecutive transaction feasibility is "yes" if consecutive transactions are possible with the general prize payout device 90, and "no" if consecutive transactions are not possible with the general prize payout device 90.

[0126] The control unit 56 is a control unit that performs overall control of the management device 50, and has a card management unit 56a, a device management unit 56b, a member management unit 56c, a prize inventory management unit 56d, a setting unit 56e, and a continuous transaction availability data notification unit 56f. In practice, by loading these programs into a CPU and executing them, the processes corresponding to the card management unit 56a, the device management unit 56b, the member management unit 56c, the prize inventory management unit 56d, the setting unit 56e, and the continuous transaction availability data notification unit 56f are executed.

[0127] The card management unit 56a is a processing unit that manages the card management data 55a. The card management unit 56a communicates with the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and the self-prize management device 60 to update the prepaid value and the number of held balls associated with the card ID. In addition, when the card management unit 56a receives a card insertion notification from the inter-machine card processing machine 10 or a request for the value associated with the card from the self-prize management device 60, it notifies the remaining balance of the prepaid value associated with the card and the number of held balls.

[0128] The device management unit 56b is a processing unit that manages the device management data 55b. The device management unit 56b generates and updates the device management data 55b based on the inter-machine card processor ID, the installation location, and the gaming machine ID acquired from the inter-machine card processor 10.

[0129] The member management unit 56c is a processing unit that manages the member management data 55c. The member management unit 56c communicates with the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and the self-prize management device 60 to update the number of stored balls associated with the card ID. In addition, when the member management unit 56c receives a member registration request, it updates the member management data 55c to add the member.

[0130] Here, the stored ball replay processing by the member management unit 56c will be explained. When the member management unit 56c receives stored ball replay request data from the machine-to-machine card processing machine 10, it deducts the number of stored balls at the payout rate from the stored balls associated with the card ID in the stored ball replay request data by the payout unit number, and recalculates the number of stored balls that can be replayed. Then, it sends stored ball replay data including the number of stored balls after the subtraction and the number of stored balls that can be replayed to the machine-to-machine card processing machine 10.

[0131] The prize inventory management unit 56d is a processing unit that manages prize inventory data 55d, which indicates the total inventory of prizes. When the prize inventory management unit 56d receives a request for prize inventory data from the self-service prize management device 60, it notifies the prize inventory data 55d. When the prize inventory management unit 56d receives the prize code and quantity, it subtracts the number of the corresponding prize from the prize inventory data 55d.

[0132] The setting unit 56e is a processing unit that sets the consecutive transaction possibility data 55e, and when it receives the "card ID" and "prize exchange completed" from the self-prize management device 60, it registers the card ID and prize exchange status in the consecutive transaction possibility data 55e and sets the consecutive transaction possibility to "possible." If the inter-machine card processing device 10 detects the insertion of a card with the card ID, the consecutive transaction possibility is set to "prohibited." The consecutive transaction possibility data for the card ID is erased after a certain period of time.

[0133] The consecutive transaction possibility data notification unit 56f is a processing unit that, when it receives a card ID from the general prize payout device 90, notifies the general prize payout device 90 of the consecutive transaction possibility data portion (card ID, whether consecutive transactions are possible) associated with the card ID from the consecutive transaction possibility data stored in the memory unit 55.

[0134] Next, an example of data stored in the storage unit 55 of the management device 50 shown in Fig. 7 will be described. Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 are diagrams showing examples of the card management data 55a, device management data 55b, member management data 55c, prize inventory data 55d, and consecutive transaction availability data 55e shown in Fig. 7.

[0135] In the card management data 55a shown in Figure 8(a), the card ID "1001" is associated with a prepaid value of "0" points, the number of balls held for each rate of "0", and the destination ID "A101". In other words, the card with the card ID "1001" is inserted into the machine-to-machine card processing machine 10 with the device ID "A101", and the management of the held balls has been transferred to the machine-to-machine card processing machine 10. Therefore, the number of held balls for each rate is zero.

[0136] In addition, in the card management data 55a, the card ID "2015" is associated with a prepaid value of "0". Furthermore, the number of balls held is associated with "0" for ball 1, "0" for ball 2, and "0" for ball 3. However, there is no association with a destination ID. In other words, the card with card ID "2015" is not inserted into the inter-machine card processing machine 10, and the management of the held balls is performed by the management device 50.

[0137] 8(b) shows that the installation location of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 with ID "A101" is "Island 1-1", the ID of the connected gaming machine 20 is "B201", the gaming machine number is "11", the game type is "Ball 1", the model of the gaming machine 20 is "EV01", and the serial number is "a". It also shows that this gaming machine 20 is in use.

[0138] The device management data 55b indicates that the installation location of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 with ID "A201" is "Island 2-1," the ID of the connected gaming machine 20 is "B506," the gaming machine number is "21," the game type is "Ball 3," the model of the gaming machine 20 is "DX03," and the serial number is "g." It also indicates that this gaming machine 20 is in use.

[0139] Member management data 55c shown in Fig. 8(c) indicates the name, stored balls, etc. associated with the card ID. Specifically, member management data 55c indicates that for card ID "2015," the name is "Tokutoku Taro," the number of stored balls for "Ball 1" is "2975," the number of stored balls for "Ball 2" is "0," and the number of stored balls for "Ball 3" is "0."

[0140] If the number of saved balls for "Ball 1" is exchanged for a special prize, the total of "2,875 balls" is subtracted, which is the total of "2,000 balls" corresponding to one grand prize, "625 balls" corresponding to one medium prize, and "250 balls" corresponding to one small prize, resulting in member management data 55c' shown in Figure 8(d).

[0141] 9(a) is data that associates the total number of items in stock with the prize code, prize name, and group code. The prize inventory data 55d associates a total number of items in stock of "400" with the prize code "0001," the prize name "grand prize," and the group code "01," associates a total number of items in stock of "400" with the prize code "0002," the prize name "medium prize," and the group code "01," and associates a total number of items in stock of "400" with the prize name "small prize" and the group code "01."

[0142] In addition, prize inventory data 55d shows a situation in which a total inventory quantity of "100" is associated with prize code "0100," prize name "tea," and group code "02," and a total inventory quantity of "100" is associated with prize code "0101," prize name "milk," and group code "02."

[0143] 9(b) shows that the consecutive transaction availability data 55e for the card ID "2015" indicates that the prize exchange status is "completed" and the consecutive transaction availability is "enabled." Therefore, if a card with the card ID "2015" is inserted into the general prize payout device 90, consecutive transactions will be possible.

[0144] In contrast, the prize exchange status for card ID "2016" is set to "not yet" and the possibility of consecutive transactions is set to "no." Therefore, if a card with card ID "2016" is inserted into the general prize payout device 90, consecutive transactions will not be possible.

[0145] <Configuration of self-service prize management device 60> Next, we will explain the configuration of the self-prize management device 60 shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the external configuration of the self-prize management device 60 shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 11 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the self-prize management device 60 shown in Fig. 10.

[0146] 10, the self-service prize management device 60 is a small computer operated by the player himself, and is placed on the table of a prize exchange counter set up in a predetermined location in the gaming parlor. A special prize payout device 80 that pays out special prizes is placed on the table of the prize exchange counter and is connected to the self-service prize management device 60 so that it can communicate with the prize exchange counter.

[0147] The self-service prize management device 60 is connected to a card reader / writer 61 and a receipt issuing unit 62. The card reader / writer 61 is a processing unit that reads the card ID from the player's card and writes the prize code and number onto the card. The receipt issuing unit 62 is a thermal printer or the like, and issues various receipts, such as receipts printed with information identifying the selected prize.

[0148] As shown in Figure 11, the self-service prize management device 60 has a display operation unit 64, a communication unit 65, a memory unit 66, and a control unit 67. Although not shown here, a store clerk tag reader can also be provided to read the identification code on the store clerk tag carried by the store clerk. The employee operating the self-service prize management device 60 can be identified by this identification code. A mobile terminal reader can also be provided to read the ID from the mobile terminal of a registered player.

[0149] The display operation unit 64 is an input / output device such as an LCD touch panel, and the communication unit 65 is an interface unit that enables the self-prize management device 60 to communicate with the management device 50 and the special prize payout device 80 via a communication line or the like.

[0150] The memory unit 66 is a storage device such as a hard disk drive or non-volatile memory, and stores a prize master 66a, holding value data 66b, and prize inventory data 66c. The prize master 66a is data used when exchanging game balls for prizes, and is received from the management device 50, for example, and stored. The holding value data 66b is data indicating the value associated with the card read by the card reader / writer 61. The prize inventory data 66c is data for managing the inventory of prizes.

[0151] The control unit 67 is a control unit that controls the entire self-prize management device 60, and has a prize management unit 67a, a holding value management unit 67b, a prize selection control unit 67c, and a prize inventory management unit 67d. In practice, programs corresponding to these functional units are stored in a non-volatile memory such as a ROM (not shown), and these programs are loaded into the CPU and executed, thereby causing the prize management unit 67a, holding value management unit 67b, prize selection control unit 67c, and prize inventory management unit 67d to execute processes corresponding to each unit.

[0152] The prize management unit 67a is a management unit that uses the prize master 66a stored in the memory unit 66 to manage the number of exchange balls for special prizes that are handled by the self-prize management device 60. The prize management unit 67a obtains the prize master for the special prize from the management device 50 and stores it in the memory unit 66 as the prize master 66a.

[0153] The held value management unit 67b is a processing unit that manages the held value data 66b. When a card ID is read by the card reader / writer 61, the held value management unit 67b requests the balance of the prepaid value, the number of held balls, and the number of saved balls associated with the card ID from the management device 50. When the held value management unit 67b receives the balance of the prepaid value, the number of held balls, and the number of saved balls associated with the card ID from the management device 50, it stores the balance of the prepaid value, the number of held balls, and the number of saved balls in the held value data 66b.

[0154] The prize selection control unit 67c is a processing unit that selects a special prize that is the target of prize exchange. The prize selection control unit 67c automatically selects a special prize based on the prize master 66a within the range of the number of balls held and the number of balls saved. Specifically, when a special prize is designated by a player's operation, the prize selection control unit 67c determines a combination of the type and number of special prizes that can be exchanged within the range of the number of balls held and the number of balls saved, and sets this as the selected prize.

[0155] Furthermore, once a prize has been selected, the prize selection control unit 67c notifies the management device 50 of the card ID, the prize code and number of the selected special prize. The prize selection control unit 67c notifies the special prize payout device 80 of a payout instruction including the prize code and number of the special prize, and also transmits the card ID and "prize exchanged" to the management device 50.

[0156] The prize inventory management unit 67d is a processing unit that manages prize inventory data 66c that indicates the inventory of all prizes. When a card ID is read by the card reader / writer 61 or the mobile terminal reader 64c, the prize inventory management unit 67d requests prize inventory data from the management device 50. When the prize inventory management unit 67d receives prize inventory data from the management device 50, it stores the received data in the prize inventory data 66c.

[0157] Next, an example of data stored in the memory unit 66 of the self-service prize management device 60 shown in Fig. 11 will be described. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the prize master 66a, holding value data 66b, and product inventory data 66c shown in Fig. 11.

[0158] The prize master 66a shown in Figure 12(a) is data that associates the prize name, group code, prize value, and number of balls to a prize code that uniquely identifies the prize. Here, the group code is identification information used to classify and manage prizes. Group code "01" indicates a special prize that can be transferred for a specified value after completing a certain procedure. Group codes "02" and above are general prizes that include everyday items other than special prizes.

[0159] The prize master 66a associates the prize code "0001" with the prize name "Grand Prize," group code "01," prize value "8000" yen, the number of exchange balls for ball 1 "2000," the number of exchange balls for ball 2 "4000," and the number of exchange balls for ball 3 "8000."

[0160] In addition, the prize master 66a associates the prize code "0002" with the prize name "medium prize," group code "01," prize value "2500" yen, the number of exchange balls for ball 1 "625," the number of exchange balls for ball 2 "1250," and the number of exchange balls for ball 3 "2500."

[0161] In addition, the prize master 66a associates the prize code "0003" with the prize name "small prize," group code "01," prize value "1000" yen, the number of exchange balls for ball 1 "250," the number of exchange balls for ball 2 "500," and the number of exchange balls for ball 3 "1000."

[0162] The held value data 66b shown in Figure 12(b) is data indicating the number of balls held, the number of saved balls, prepaid value, etc., which are values associated with the read card. The held value data 66b indicates that the number of balls held by ball 1 is "0", the number of balls held by ball 2 is "0", the number of balls held by ball 3 is "0", the number of saved balls for ball 1 is "2975", the number of saved balls for ball 2 is "0", the number of saved balls for ball 3 is "0", and the prepaid value is "0".

[0163] 12(c) is data that associates prize codes with prize names, group codes, and total stock quantities. The prize inventory data 66c shows a situation in which prize code "0001" is associated with the prize name "grand prize," group code "01," and total stock quantity "400," prize code "0002" is associated with the prize name "medium prize," group code "01," and total stock quantity "400," and prize code "0003" is associated with the prize name "small prize," group code "01," and total stock quantity "400."

[0164] Next, we will explain the display screen displayed on the display operation unit 64 shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed on the display operation unit 64 shown in Fig. 11. As shown in Fig. 13(a), when the self-prize management device 60 is in standby mode, it displays messages such as "Please place the card to be exchanged" and "Once you place the card, self-exchange will begin," prompting the user to place a card on the card reader / writer 61.

[0165] Thereafter, when the player places the card on the card reader / writer 61, the exchange screen shown in Figure 13(b) is displayed. This screen shows the situation where the exchange process for the special prize has been completed, with 2875 of the 2975 exchange balls having been exchanged for the special prize, and the remaining balls being 100. In addition, this exchange screen displays an "Exchange" button for automatically exchanging for the special prize, and a "Cancel" button for canceling the exchange operation for the special prize.

[0166] When a special prize is selected in this way, the prize code and number of the selected special prize are notified to the special prize payout device 80, and as shown in Figure 13(c), messages such as "Please take your card" and "Please be careful not to forget to take your prize" are displayed on the display operation unit 64. When the player takes the card from the card reader / writer 61, the prize exchange for the special prize is completed.

[0167] <General Prize Payout Device 90> Next, we will explain the general prize payout device 90 shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 14 is a diagram showing the external configuration of the general prize payout device 90 shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 15 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the general prize payout device 90 shown in Fig. 14.

[0168] 14, this general prize dispensing device 90 has an appearance similar to that of a vending machine that sells beverages and the like, and allows the general prizes stored in the storage section to be seen, and also has a display operation section 91, a card insertion slot 94a, and an outlet 98. Here, it is assumed that tea, milk, etc. are stored in the general prize dispensing device 90.

[0169] When a player inserts a card into the card insertion slot 94a of the general prize payout device 90, the card ID stored on the card is read, and the read card ID is transmitted to the management device 50. The management device 50 then notifies the general prize payout device 90 of the number of held balls and the number of saved balls associated with the card ID, and the data on whether or not consecutive transactions are possible associated with the card ID. This sets the general prize payout device 90 as to whether or not to consecutively exchange prizes for general prizes.

[0170] Specifically, when the general prize payout device 90 is set to allow continuous transactions and the player exchanges the 100 balls stored in ball 1 for a general prize, the player presses the number of "tea" which requires 50 balls stored in ball 1 on the display operation unit 91. As a result, the management device 50 subtracts "50 balls" from the 100 balls stored in ball 1 associated with the card ID, and then the selected "tea" is transported to the take-out port 98.

[0171] At this time, the card is not returned from the card insertion slot 94a, and the player remains in a state where he or she can continue to select a general prize. In this state, if the player presses the number of "Milk," which requires "50" balls in ball 1, on the display operation unit 91, the management device 50 subtracts "50" from the "50" number of balls in ball 1 associated with the card ID, and then the selected "Milk" is transported to the outlet 98. As a result, the number of balls associated with the card ID becomes "0" and the player cannot exchange the card for any general prize, so the card is returned from the card insertion slot 94a.

[0172] On the other hand, if the general prize payout device 90 is set to not allow consecutive transactions and the player wishes to exchange the 100 stored balls of ball 1 for a general prize, the player presses the number of "tea," which requires 50 stored balls of ball 1, on the display operation unit 91. As a result, the management device 50 subtracts 50 balls from the 100 stored balls of ball 1 associated with the card ID, and then the selected "tea" is transported to the take-out port 98. The card is then returned from the card insertion port 94a, and the transaction to exchange the prize for a general prize is completed.

[0173] As shown in FIG. 15, the general prize payout device 90 has a display operation unit 91, a storage unit 92, a transport unit 93, a card reader 94, a communication unit 95, a memory unit 96, and a control unit 97.

[0174] The display operation unit 91 is an input / output device such as a liquid crystal touch panel, and the player operates the selection button for the general prize. The display operation unit 91 is also provided with a cancel button, and by operating the cancel button during a continuous transaction, the transaction can be canceled and the card can be returned even if there are held and saved balls that can be exchanged for general prizes.

[0175] The storage section 92 is a section for storing general prizes, and is configured using a transparent acrylic plate or the like so that the general prizes can be seen from the outside.

[0176] The transport unit 93 is a mechanism for transporting the selected general prize to the outlet 98, and specifically moves an elevator to the storage unit for the corresponding prize, places the prize on the elevator, and then moves the elevator to the outlet 98 to transport the prize to the outlet 98. If multiple prizes are eligible, the elevator moves sequentially to the locations of the storage units where each prize is located, and transports the multiple prizes together to the outlet 98.

[0177] The card reader 94 reads the card ID from the card inserted into the card insertion slot 94a. The control unit 97 transmits the card ID read by the card reader 94 to the management device 50, and acquires the number of held balls and the number of saved balls associated with the card ID, as well as the data on whether or not a continuous transaction is possible associated with the card ID. The communication unit 95 is an interface unit that allows the general prize payout device 90 to communicate with the management device 50 via a communication line.

[0178] The memory unit 96 is a storage device such as a hard disk drive or non-volatile memory, and stores prize inventory data 96a, a prize master 96b, and continuous transaction availability data 96c. The prize inventory data 96a is data for managing the inventory of prizes stored in the storage unit 92.

[0179] The prize master 96b is data that stores the prize code, prize name, group code, prize value, and number of exchange balls of the general prizes stored in the storage section 92 of the general prize payout device 90. The consecutive transaction possibility data 96c is data that indicates whether consecutive prize exchanges of general prizes can be performed by the general prize payout device 90, and includes the card ID and whether consecutive transactions are possible.

[0180] The control unit 97 is a control unit that controls the entire general prize payout device 90, and has an inventory management unit 97a and a transaction processing unit 97b. In practice, programs corresponding to these functional units are stored in a non-volatile memory such as a ROM (not shown), and these programs are loaded into the CPU and executed, causing the inventory management unit 97a and the transaction processing unit 97b to execute the processes corresponding to them.

[0181] The inventory management unit 97a is a processing unit that manages prize inventory data 96a that indicates the inventory of prizes stored in the storage unit 92. When the exchange of general prizes is completed, the inventory management unit 97a updates the inventory of general prizes and notifies the management device 50 of the prize codes and quantities of the exchanged general prizes.

[0182] The transaction processing unit 97b is a processing unit that processes transactions for general prizes. Specifically, when the card ID is read, it transmits the card ID to the management device 50, receives the number of held balls and the number of saved balls associated with the card ID returned from the management device 50, and temporarily stores them. It also receives consecutive transaction availability data associated with the card ID returned from the management device 50, and stores it in the memory unit 96 as consecutive transaction availability data 96c. Then, it determines whether consecutive transactions are possible or not based on this consecutive transaction availability data 96c.

[0183] Specifically, when consecutive transactions are made, when a player selects a general prize on the display operation unit 91, the unit instructs the management device 50 to subtract the number of balls held and the number of balls stored for that general prize, and when a subtraction completion notification is received from the management device 50, the unit instructs the transport unit 93 to transport the selected general prize to the take-out port 98.

[0184] At this time, the card is not returned from the card insertion port 94a, and the player is allowed to continue selecting a general prize. In this state, if the player operates the display operation unit 91 to select a general prize, the general prize is similarly transported to the take-out port 98. Then, if there are no balls in possession or saved enough to award a general prize, the card is returned from the card insertion port 94a.

[0185] On the other hand, if consecutive transactions are not being made, when a player operates the display operation unit 91 to select a general prize, the control unit 91 instructs the management device 50 to subtract the number of balls held and saved for that general prize, and when it receives a subtraction completion notice from the management device 50, it instructs the transport unit 93 to transport the selected general prize to the take-out opening 98. Then, even if there are enough held and saved balls to award the general prize, the card is returned from the card insertion opening 94a.

[0186] Next, an example of data stored in the memory unit 96 of the general prize payout device 90 shown in Fig. 15 will be described. Fig. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the prize inventory data 96a, the prize master 96b, and the consecutive transaction possibility data 96c shown in Fig. 15.

[0187] 16(a) is data that associates prize codes with prize names, group codes, and stock quantities. The prize inventory data 96a shows a situation in which the prize code "0100" is associated with the prize name "tea," group code "02," and stock quantity "100," and the prize code "0101" is associated with the prize name "milk," group code "02," and stock quantity "100."

[0188] The prize master 96b shown in Figure 16(b) is data that stores the prize code, prize name, group code, prize value, and number of exchange balls for the general prizes stored in the storage unit 92 of the general prize payout device 90. Here, the prize code "0100" is associated with the prize name "tea," group code "02," prize value "200" yen, number of exchange balls for ball 1 (4-pachi) "50," number of exchange balls for ball 2 (2-pachi) "100," and number of exchange balls for ball 3 (1-pachi) "200," and the prize code "0101" is associated with the prize name "milk," group code "02," prize value "200" yen, number of exchange balls for ball 1 (4-pachi) "50," number of exchange balls for ball 2 (2-pachi) "100," and number of exchange balls for ball 3 (1-pachi) "200."

[0189] The consecutive transaction possibility data 96c shown in Figure 16(c) is data indicating whether consecutive prize exchanges of general prizes can be performed using the general prize payout device 90, and shows a situation in which the consecutive transaction possibility "Yes" is associated with the card ID "2015".

[0190] <Processing procedure of the self-service prize management device 60> Next, we will explain the processing procedure of the self-prize management device 60 shown in Figure 11. Figure 17 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the self-prize management device 60 shown in Figure 11. As shown in Figure 17, the self-prize management device 60 is in a state of waiting for the acceptance of a card (step S101; No), and if it accepts the card (step S101; Yes), it sends the card ID to the management device 50 and obtains the number of held balls and the number of saved balls associated with the card ID sent from the management device 50 (step S102).

[0191] Thereafter, the system waits for the special prize exchange operation to be accepted (step S103; No), and if the special prize exchange operation is accepted (step S103; Yes), the system automatically selects a special prize (step S104). Specifically, the system selects a combination of special prizes with the maximum exchangeable value within the range of the number of balls held and the number of balls saved. Since the selection of such special prizes is a well-known technique, a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted here.

[0192] Thereafter, the special prize payout device 80 is instructed to pay out the selected special prize (step S105), and the card ID and the fact that the prize has been exchanged are notified to the management device 50 (step S106), and the process ends.

[0193] <Processing Procedure of General Prize Payout Device 90> Next, we will explain the processing procedure of the general prize payout device 90 shown in Figure 15. Figure 18 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the general prize payout device 90 shown in Figure 15. For the sake of convenience, we will show here the case where a cancel operation is not accepted.

[0194] As shown in Figure 18, the general prize payout device 90 is in a state of waiting for the card to be accepted (step S201; No), and if the card is accepted (step S201; Yes), it sends the card ID to the management device 50 and obtains the number of balls held and the number of balls stored associated with the card ID sent from the management device 50 (step S202).

[0195] Thereafter, the general prize payout device 90 acquires the successive transaction possibility data associated with the card ID transmitted from the management device 50 (step S203) and stores it in the memory unit 96. Then, it checks whether there are any held or saved balls that can be exchanged for the general prize with the fewest required balls (step S204), and if there are any held or saved balls that can be exchanged for the general prize with the fewest required balls (step S204; No), it returns the card (step S210) and ends the process.

[0196] On the other hand, if there are held and saved balls that can be exchanged for a general prize that requires the fewest number of balls (step S204; Yes), the display operation unit 91 accepts a selection operation for the general prize (step S205) and determines whether or not the general prize can be traded (step S206). If there are no balls corresponding to the selected general prize and the prize cannot be traded (step S206; No), the process proceeds to step S205 and another general prize is selected and accepted.

[0197] On the other hand, if the selected general prize can be traded (step S206; Yes), the management device 50 is instructed to subtract the number of balls corresponding to the general prize from the number of balls held or the number of balls stored (step S207), and once a subtraction completion notification is received from the management device 50, the selected general prize is transported to the take-out port 98 (step S208).

[0198] If it is determined that consecutive transactions are not possible (step S209; No), the card is returned (step S210) and the process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined that consecutive transactions are possible (step S209; Yes), the process proceeds to step S204 and the same process is performed.

[0199] As described above, in this embodiment 1, the management device 50 stores continuous transaction feasibility data indicating whether continuous transactions are possible using the general prize payout device 90, in correspondence with the card ID, and when a card ID is received from the general prize payout device 90, it notifies the general prize payout device 90 of the number of balls held and the number of balls saved associated with the card ID and the continuous transaction feasibility data associated with the card ID.When the general prize payout device 90 receives a card ID, it obtains the number of balls held and the number of balls saved associated with the card ID and the continuous transaction feasibility data associated with the card ID from the management device 50, and is configured to control whether or not to allow continuous transactions of general prizes based on the obtained continuous transaction feasibility data.Therefore, depending on the player's movement toward the general prize payout device 90 (whether from the self-prize management device 60 or from the gaming machine 20), the number of balls held and the number of balls saved acquired by the player can be efficiently exchanged for general prizes.

[0200] [Variations] In addition, in this embodiment 1, the management device 50 stores the "possibility of prize exchange" for each card ID, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the management device 50 can also be configured to manage whether or not a prize has been "exchanged for a special prize," and the general prize payout device 90 can determine whether or not continuous transactions of general prizes are possible.

[0201] 19 is an explanatory diagram of an overview of a prize exchange system according to a modified example. As shown in the figure, when a card is held over the self-prize management device 60 (S21), the self-prize management device 60 reads the card ID stored on the card and obtains the number of held balls and the number of saved balls associated with the card ID from the management device 150.

[0202] When the self-prize management device 60 receives the special prize exchange operation (S22), it instructs the special prize payout device 80 to pay out the special prize (S23). After that, the card becomes removable from the card reader / writer of the self-prize management device 60 (S24), and the "card ID" and "prize exchange completed" are notified to the management device 150 (S25). When the management device 50 receives the notification of the "card ID" and "prize exchange completed", it stores "prize exchange completed" in association with this card ID (S26).

[0203] Thereafter, when the player inserts a card into the general prize payout device 190 (S27), the general prize payout device 190 notifies the management device 150 of the card ID (S28) and obtains from the management device 150 the number of balls held and the number of balls stored associated with the card ID.

[0204] Furthermore, the management device 150 transmits "prize exchange completed" to the general prize payout device 190 (S29). When the general prize payout device 90 receives "prize exchange completed" from the management device 50, it determines that consecutive transactions are possible because the prize exchange for the special prize has already been completed (S30), and enables consecutive transactions (S31). Here, the management device 150 sequentially subtracts the number of balls required for the general exchange of the general prize from the stored balls, while dispensing "tea" and "milk."

[0205] In the above variant, the management device 150 stores the information that the prize has been exchanged, but it is also possible to write the information that the prize has been exchanged into a card and read the information that the prize has been exchanged stored on the card, thereby allowing the general prize payout device 190 to determine whether or not consecutive transactions are possible.

[0206] [Embodiment 2] In the above-mentioned first embodiment, a case was described in which a prize is selected in the general prize payout device and the selected general prize is paid out using the number of held balls and the number of saved balls associated with the inserted card, but the present invention is not limited to this. If the selected general prize cannot be exchanged within the range of the number of held balls and the number of saved balls, and if the general prize can be exchanged using the remaining prepaid value on the card, it is also possible to convert a portion of the prepaid value into the number of held balls and add it to the number of held balls to exchange for the general prize.

[0207] This is because when a player goes to a general prize payout device after exchanging a special prize for a general prize, the player may want to purchase a general prize such as tea, but the number of balls held and the number of balls saved may not be enough to purchase the general prize. In such cases, the player can purchase the general prize using a vending machine installed in the gaming facility, but if the player does not have any coins, the player will not be able to purchase the general prize. Also, the general prize payout device may offer general prizes that cannot be purchased from other vending machines. For this reason, it is useful to convert a portion of the prepaid value into the number of balls held and add it to the number of balls held to exchange for a general prize.

[0208] <Outline of the prize exchange system according to the second embodiment> In this embodiment 2, when exchanging prizes using a general prize payout device, if the prize cannot be exchanged for a general prize within the number of balls held and the number of balls stored associated with the card, a portion of the prepaid value of the card is converted into the number of balls held and the prize is exchanged.

[0209] Figure 20 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an overview of the prize exchange system according to the present embodiment 2. As shown in Figure 20, when exchanging a general prize for a general prize at the general prize payout device, the player inserts a card into the general prize payout device (S41). As a result, the card ID is notified to the management device, and the number of held balls and the number of saved balls associated with the card ID are obtained.

[0210] In this situation, if the player inputs the number of a general prize into the display operation unit to select a general prize (S42), it is determined whether the selected general prize can be traded (S43). Specifically, it is determined whether the general prize can be exchanged within the range of the number of balls held and the number of balls saved associated with the card.

[0211] If the number of balls held and the number of saved balls associated with the card are equal to or greater than the number of balls required to exchange for a general prize, the selected general prize is transported to the outlet, the card is returned, and the exchange for the general prize is completed (S44). However, if the number of balls held and the number of saved balls associated with the card are less than the number of balls required to exchange for a general prize, a portion of the balance of the prepaid value is converted into the number of held balls, and the prize is exchanged for a general prize.

[0212] Figure 21 is a diagram showing an example of a prize exchange process according to the second embodiment. In the case of pattern A shown in Figure 21, the number of balls held by ball 1 (each ball is 4 yen) associated with the card is "800 balls," the prepaid value is "1000 yen," and the prize value required for the prize selected by the player is "100 yen (25 balls)." In this case, it is possible to exchange for a general prize selected based on the number of balls held, and after the prize exchange, the number of balls held by ball 1 becomes "775 balls" and the prepaid value becomes "1000 yen."

[0213] Pattern B shows a situation where the number of balls held by Ball 1 (each ball is 4 yen) associated with the card is "10 balls," the prepaid value is "1,000 yen," and the prize value required for the prize selected by the player is "100 yen (25 balls)." In this case, the prepaid value of "100 yen" is added to the number of balls held by Ball 1 (25 balls), resulting in the number of balls held being "35 balls" and the prepaid value being "900 yen." Therefore, it is possible to exchange the number of balls held for a general prize selected based on the number of balls held, and after the prize exchange, the number of balls held by Ball 1 becomes "10 balls" and the prepaid value is "900 yen."

[0214] Pattern C shows a situation where the number of balls held by Ball 1 (each ball is 4 yen) associated with the card is 10, the prepaid value is 1,000 yen, and the prize value required for the prize selected by the player is 120 yen (30 balls). In this case, the prepaid value of 100 yen is added to the number of balls held by Ball 1 (25 balls), making the number of balls held 35 and the prepaid value 900 yen. Therefore, it is possible to exchange the number of balls held for a general prize selected based on the number of balls held, and after the prize exchange, the number of balls held by Ball 1 becomes 5, and the prepaid value becomes 900 yen.

[0215] Pattern D shows a situation in which the number of balls held by Ball 1 (each ball costs 4 yen) associated with the card is "10 balls," the prepaid value is "100 yen," and the prize value required for the prize selected by the player is "200 yen (50 balls)." In this case, even if the prepaid value of "100 yen" is added to the number of balls held by Ball 1, which is "25 balls," the number of balls held will be "35 balls," the prepaid value will be "0 yen," and there will be an insufficient number of balls to exchange. Therefore, it is not possible to exchange for a general prize selected based on the number of balls held, and after the prize exchange, the number of balls held by Ball 1 will be "10 balls," and the prepaid value will be "100 yen."

[0216] In this way, the prize exchange system of this embodiment 2 is configured so that when a prize is exchanged using the general prize payout device 190, if the number of balls held and the number of saved balls associated with the card are insufficient, a portion of the prepaid value is converted into the number of balls held and the prize is exchanged, thereby increasing the utilization rate of the general prize payout device.

[0217] Note that the configurations illustrated in the above embodiments are merely functional schematics and do not necessarily have to be physically configured as shown. In other words, the distribution and integration of each device is not limited to that illustrated, and all or part of the devices can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit depending on various loads, usage conditions, etc. [Industrial Applicability]

[0218] The prize exchange system and prize exchange method of the present invention are suitable for efficiently exchanging the number of gaming media acquired by a player for general prizes according to the player's movement toward the general prize payout device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0219] 10 machine-to-machine card processing machines 11 Status display section 12 Banknote transport section 12a Bill insertion slot 13 Display operation section 14 Reader / Writer 14a Card slot 15 Communications Department 16 Memory section 16a Device status data 16b Card Data 17 Control Unit 17a Data Management Department 18 Gaming Management Department 18a Authentication processing section 18b Authentication key management unit 18c Gaming Machine Status Management Department 20 Gaming machines 21 Handle 22 Count button 23 Communication control section 24 Production Control Unit 24a Design lottery section 24b Production Lottery Section 25 Game control unit 26 Game ball control unit 26a Playable Number Management Department 30 Island Controller 50 Management device 51 Display section 52 Input section 53 External Network Communication Section 54 Store Network Communications Department 55 Storage section 55a Card Management Data 55b Equipment Management Data 55c Membership Management Data 55d Prize Inventory Data 55e Continuous trading availability data 56 Control Unit 56a Card Management Department 56b Equipment management department 56c Membership Management Department 56d Prize Inventory Management Department 56e Settings 56f Continuous transaction availability data notification section 60 Self-Prize Management Device 61 Card reader / writer 62 Receipt Issuance Department 64 Display operation section 65 Communications Department 66 Memory section 66a Prize Master 66b Holding Value Data 66c Prize Inventory Data 67 Control Unit 67a Prize Management Department 67b Holding Value Management Department 67c Prize selection control unit 67d Prize Inventory Management Department 80 Special prize payout device 90 General prize payout device 91 Display operation section 92 Storage area 93 Conveyor 94 Card Reader 94a Card slot 95 Communications Department 96 Memory section 96a Prize inventory data 96b Prize Master 96c Continuous trading availability data 97 Control Unit 97a Inventory Control Department 97b Transaction Processing Unit 98 Outlet 150 Management device 190 General prize payout device

Claims

1. A prize exchange system comprising: each machine device arranged in tandem with a gaming machine so as to be able to communicate with the gaming machine; a management device that manages the number of gaming media acquired through play on the gaming machine by associating it with identification information of a storage medium; a prize management device that exchanges at least the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium for prizes; and a general prize payout device that pays out multiple general prizes stored in multiple storage units within the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium, The management device A storage means for storing continuous transaction availability information indicating whether continuous transactions are possible or not by the general prize payout device in association with the identification information of the storage medium; a notification means for notifying the number of game media associated with the identification information of the storage medium and information on whether or not a continuous transaction is possible when the identification information of the storage medium is received from the general prize payout device; The general prize payout device is an acquisition means for acquiring, when the identification information of the storage medium is received, the number of game media and information on whether or not a continuous transaction is possible, associated with the identification information of the storage medium from the management device; a control means for controlling whether or not to permit consecutive transactions of general prizes based on the consecutive transaction permission information acquired by the acquisition means; A prize exchange system comprising:

2. The management device The prize exchange system described in claim 1, further comprising a setting means for setting the continuous transaction possibility information stored in the storage means to continuous transaction possibility when the storage medium is exchanged for a prize by the prize management device.

3. The control means The prize exchange system described in claim 2, characterized in that when the continuous transaction possibility information acquired by the acquisition means indicates that continuous transactions are possible without returning the storage medium, the system controls the process of accepting the selection operation of general prizes and the process of paying out the selected general prizes repeatedly within the range of the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium.

4. The setting means The prize exchange system described in claim 2, characterized in that if the storage medium has not been exchanged for a prize by the prize management device, the continuous transaction possibility information stored in the storage means is set to continuous transaction impossible.

5. The control means The prize exchange system described in claim 4, characterized in that when the continuous transaction possibility information acquired by the acquisition means indicates that continuous transactions are not possible, if a payout process for the general prize selected in response to the acceptance process for the selection operation of the general prize is performed within the range of the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium, the storage medium is controlled to be returned.

6. The management device A prize exchange system as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is equipped with a subtraction means that subtracts the number of gaming media associated with a special prize exchanged for a prize by the prize management device from the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium, and subtracts the number of gaming media associated with a general prize from the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium each time a general prize is paid out by the general prize payout device.

7. A prize exchange system comprising: each machine device arranged in tandem with a gaming machine so as to be able to communicate with the gaming machine; a management device that manages the number of gaming media acquired through play on the gaming machine by associating it with identification information of a storage medium; a prize management device that exchanges at least the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium for prizes; and a general prize payout device that pays out multiple general prizes stored in multiple storage units within the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium, The management device a storage means for storing exchange history information indicating whether the storage medium has been exchanged by the prize management device in association with the identification information of the storage medium; a notification means for notifying the number of game media and exchange history information associated with the identification information of the storage medium when the identification information of the storage medium is received from the general prize payout device; Equipped with The general prize payout device is an acquisition means for acquiring, when the identification information of the storage medium is received, the number of game media and exchange history information associated with the identification information of the storage medium from the management device; a control means for controlling whether or not to permit consecutive transactions of general prizes based on the exchange history information acquired by the acquisition means; A prize exchange system comprising:

8. A prize exchange method in a prize exchange system having each machine device arranged in tandem with a gaming machine so as to be able to communicate with the gaming machine, a management device that manages the number of gaming media acquired through play on the gaming machine by associating it with identification information of the storage medium, a prize management device that exchanges at least the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium for prizes, and a general prize payout device that pays out multiple general prizes stored in multiple storage units within the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium, A storage step in which the management device stores continuous transaction availability information indicating whether continuous transactions are possible or not by the general prize payout device in a storage unit in association with the identification information of the storage medium; a notification step of notifying the number of game media and continuous transaction availability information associated with the identification information of the storage medium when the management device receives the identification information of the storage medium from the general prize payout device; an acquisition step of acquiring, when the general prize payout device receives the identification information of the storage medium, the number of game media and information on whether or not continuous transactions are possible from the management device, which are associated with the identification information of the storage medium; a control step in which the general prize payout device controls whether or not to permit consecutive transactions of general prizes based on the consecutive transaction permission information acquired by the acquisition step; A method of redeeming a prize, comprising:

9. A prize exchange method in a prize exchange system having each machine device arranged in tandem with a gaming machine so as to be able to communicate with the gaming machine, a management device that manages the number of gaming media acquired through play on the gaming machine by associating it with identification information of the storage medium, a prize management device that exchanges at least the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium for prizes, and a general prize payout device that pays out multiple general prizes stored in multiple storage units within the number of gaming media associated with the identification information of the storage medium, a storage step in which the management device stores exchange history information in a storage unit, in association with the identification information of the storage medium, the exchange history information indicating whether the storage medium has been exchanged by the prize management device; a notification step of notifying the number of game media and exchange history information associated with the identification information of the storage medium when the management device receives the identification information of the storage medium from the general prize payout device; an acquisition step of acquiring, when the general prize payout device receives the identification information of the storage medium, the number of game media and exchange history information associated with the identification information of the storage medium from the management device; a control step in which the general prize payout device controls whether or not to permit consecutive transactions of general prizes based on the exchange history information acquired by the acquisition step; A method of redeeming a prize, comprising:

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