JP2002258964A - Monitor system for game control device, game control integrated circuit device, game control substrate, game machine and monitor device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To immediately discover an illegal action such as the illegal exchange of a game control device. SOLUTION: ID number data are transmitted in a preliminarily decided time interval from the main control substrate 11 of a game machine 1, and the ID number data are imparted to the inter-stand machine control substrate 21 of an inter-stand machine 2. The inter-stand machine control substrate 21 collates the ID number data received from the main control substrate 11 and the normal ID number data, and when those data match, it is judged that an authorized one-chip microcomputer (a game control device) is mounted on the main control substrate 11. On the other hand, when the ID number data received from the main control substrate 11 are different from the normal ID number data, it is judged that no authorized one chip micrometer is mounted on the main control board 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for monitoring a game control element provided in a game machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Control boards (main control boards) of gaming machines such as pachinko machines and pachislot machines include, for example, CPUs and RAs.
A game control element such as M and ROM is mounted, and operations relating to the game are controlled by the CPU executing a game control program stored in the ROM. Therefore, the regular ROM mounted on the main control board is used for storing the RO in which the unauthorized program is recorded so that the player can acquire a large number of medals and game balls.
When exchanged for M (so-called back rom), a game content that is unilaterally advantageous to the player is realized, and the game store suffers a great deal of damage. Therefore, conventionally, the ROM as described above
Techniques have been proposed for detecting fraudulent activities such as exchange. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-233307 discloses a game control chip (a game control CP
U, RAM and ROM) and a monitoring unit connected to the game control chip, and the game information read out from the game control chip to the monitoring unit at the next power-on. A system has been proposed which determines whether or not game information matches game information stored in a monitoring unit.

[0003]

However, in the above-described system, if an illegal act such as ROM replacement is performed after the power of the gaming machine is turned on, the fact of the illegal act can be found until the next power-on. It is not possible to prevent damage to the game store due to illegal acquisition of medals or game balls between the time when the power of the gaming machine is turned off and the illegal act is performed. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned technical problem, and when an illegal act such as illegal exchange of the game control element is performed, the game control element which can immediately detect the illegal act. An object of the present invention is to provide a monitoring system, and a game control element, a gaming machine, and a monitoring device for configuring the monitoring system.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine (1) and a monitoring device (2) connected to the gaming machine so as to enable data communication. 8; C) for monitoring a game control element (113/114) provided in the gaming machine, wherein the game control element is unique to the game control element. A unique data storage unit (113) for storing data, wherein the gaming machine spontaneously transmits the data stored in the unique data storage unit to the monitoring device at predetermined time intervals; The monitoring device includes means (111), and based on data transmitted from the gaming machine, determines whether or not the game control element provided in the gaming machine is a regular one. Determination means (2 ) Is a monitoring system of the game control device characterized in that it comprises.

[0005] Alphanumeric characters in parentheses indicate corresponding components in the embodiment described later. Hereinafter, the same applies in this section. In this section, the term "game control element" may be used as a concept including only a storage element (e.g., ROM) storing a game control program,
It may be used as a concept including a storage element storing a game control program and an integrated circuit element (CPU) executing the game control program stored in the storage element. When the term “game control element” is used in a concept including the storage element and the integrated circuit element, the unique data transmission means may be provided in the game control element.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the game control element sends data specific to the game control element to the monitoring device at predetermined time intervals, and the monitoring device receives the data from the gaming machine. Based on the data, it is determined whether or not the game control element provided in the gaming machine is a regular one. That is, the monitoring device continues to monitor whether or not the gaming machine is provided with a regular game control element. Thus, when an illegal act such as illegally exchanging the game control element is performed, the illegal act can be immediately detected.

[0007] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the determining means includes:
While data is being received from the gaming machine at the predetermined time interval, it is determined that the gaming machine is provided with a regular game control element, and data is received from the gaming machine at the predetermined time interval. 2. A game control element monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising means for determining that the gaming machine is not provided with a proper game control element in response to the reception of the game control element not being received. It is.

According to the present invention, for example, in order to replace a regular game control element provided in a game machine with an unauthorized game control element, the regular game control element is removed from the game machine. When the monitoring device stops receiving data from the gaming machine at predetermined time intervals (when data from the gaming machine is interrupted), it is determined that the gaming machine is not provided with a proper gaming control element at that time. . Therefore, a fraudulent activity can be detected before the fraudulent game control element is incorporated into the gaming machine, and damage to the game store due to fraudulent acquisition of game media can be prevented.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the determining means includes:
While receiving the same value data from the gaming machine, it is determined that the gaming machine is provided with a regular game control element, and that the value of the data received from the gaming machine has changed. 3. The system for monitoring a game control element according to claim 1, further comprising means for determining that the game machine is not provided with a proper game control element. According to the present invention, even if the game control element is exchanged illegally so that the data given from the gaming machine to the monitoring device is not interrupted, the value of the data received from the gaming machine changes after the illegal exchange. Therefore, based on this change, it can be discovered that the game control element has been exchanged illegally.

[0010] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the monitoring device includes:
The game machine further comprises a regular data storage means (212) for storing data unique to a game control element provided in the game machine, wherein the determination means comprises a data received from the game machine and the regular data storage means. When the data received from the gaming machine matches the data stored in the regular data storage means, the gaming machine has a regular game control element. Is determined that the data received from the gaming machine and the data stored in the regular data storage means do not match, if the gaming machine is not provided with a regular game control element The system for monitoring a game control element according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit.

According to the present invention, since the monitoring device stores the regular data in the regular data storage means, the regular device can store the regular data without storing the timing or the value of the data received from the gaming machine. It can be determined whether or not the game control element is provided. The invention according to claim 5 is an integrated circuit element (111) for reading a game control program for controlling a game in a gaming machine from a storage element (113) and executing a process based on the read game control program. And a unique data transmitting means for spontaneously transmitting data unique to the storage element to a monitoring device (2; 8; C) connected to the gaming machine so as to be able to perform data communication at predetermined time intervals. A game control integrated circuit device characterized by the above-mentioned.

According to the present invention, since the data unique to the storage element is spontaneously transmitted from the integrated circuit element, it is necessary to transmit a command to the integrated circuit element in order to obtain the unique data. Absent. Therefore, the integrated circuit device according to the present invention, when combined with the monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, receives an external command for the reason of preventing the game operation from being adversely affected. A monitoring system can be configured that can continue monitoring even during a period in which is prohibited (for example, during a game).

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game control board (11) provided in a game machine for controlling a game in the game machine, the game control being for controlling a game in the game machine. Storing the program in a storage element (113);
An integrated circuit element (111) that reads a game control program from the storage element and executes a process based on the read game control program. The integrated circuit element stores data unique to the storage element in the game. A game control board characterized by comprising a unique data transmission means for spontaneously transmitting at predetermined time intervals to a monitoring device (2; 8; C) connected to the game machine so as to be capable of data communication. .

According to the present invention, since data unique to the storage element is spontaneously transmitted from the integrated circuit element, it is necessary to transmit a command to the integrated circuit element in order to obtain the unique data. Absent. Therefore, the game control board according to the present invention is, for example, combined with the monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
During periods when external commands are not allowed to prevent adverse effects on gaming (for example,
It is possible to configure a monitoring system that can continue monitoring even during a game).

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game machine whose operation is controlled according to a game control program stored in a game control element (113/114), wherein the game control element is provided in the game control element. Unique data storage means (113) for storing data unique to the game control element; and unique data for spontaneously transmitting the data stored in the unique data storage means to the monitoring device at predetermined time intervals. A gaming machine characterized by including transmission means (111).

According to the present invention, since data unique to the game control element is spontaneously transmitted from the gaming machine, it is necessary to transmit a command to the gaming machine in order to acquire the unique data. Absent. Therefore, the gaming machine of the present invention
For example, in combination with the monitoring device described in any one of claims 1 to 4, a period during which reception of a command from the outside is prohibited for the purpose of preventing a game operation from being adversely affected (for example, a game It is possible to configure a monitoring system that can continue monitoring even in (middle).

The invention according to claim 8 is a monitoring device (2; 8; C) connected to a gaming machine so as to be able to perform data communication,
Based on data spontaneously transmitted from the gaming machine at predetermined time intervals, it is determined whether or not the game control element (113/114) provided in the gaming machine is a regular one. A monitoring device characterized by including a judging means (21). According to the present invention, in the monitoring device, it is determined whether or not the game control element provided in the gaming machine is a regular one based on the data spontaneously transmitted from the gaming machine. Therefore, it is not necessary to give a command from the management device to the gaming machine in order to obtain the data necessary for the determination, and therefore, it is prohibited to give a command to the gaming machine from outside for the purpose of preventing the gaming operation from being adversely affected. During the period during which the game is being played (for example, during a game), the management device continues to monitor the game control element (determines whether the game control element provided in the gaming machine is a regular one). it can.

In the meantime, while the data is being received from the gaming machine at the predetermined time interval, the determining means determines that the gaming machine is provided with a regular game control element. In response to the data not being received from the gaming machine at the predetermined time interval, the gaming machine includes first determining means for determining that the gaming machine is not provided with a proper gaming control element. You may. In addition, while receiving the same value data from the gaming machine, the determining means determines that the gaming machine is provided with a regular game control element, and the data received from the gaming machine. In response to a change in the value of the second determination means, alone or together with the first determination means to determine that the gaming machine is not provided with a regular game control element May be included.

Further, the monitoring device further includes regular data storage means (212) for storing data peculiar to a game control element provided in the game machine, and the determination means receives the data from the game machine. The data stored in the regular data storage means and the data stored in the regular data storage means, and when the data received from the gaming machine matches the data stored in the regular data storage means, the gaming machine When it is determined that a regular game control element is provided and the data received from the gaming machine does not match the data stored in the regular data storage means, the gaming machine has regular gaming control. A third determining unit that determines that no device is provided, together with the first or second determining unit, or with the first and second determining units. It may be included in the.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a card-type game system in which a game control element monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated. In the card-type gaming system, a game medium (for example, a pachinko machine) used for a game in the gaming machine 1 associated with the gaming machine 1 such as a pachinko machine or a pachislot machine in a one-to-one correspondence in a game store called a hall. A machine 2 for renting out a ball or a pachislot medal is provided.

The machine 2 accepts a game card on which data of value equivalent to money is recorded, and lends a game medium within the range of the value recorded on the game card. Further, in this embodiment, the machine 2 inserts the amount of money inserted from a not-shown money slot (if a plurality of money can be inserted, the total amount of all inserted money) into 100. The game is converted into a frequency with a circle as one frequency, and a game card in which data of a value represented by the frequency is recorded is issued. That is, the machine 2 has a game medium lending function and a card issuing function.

A plurality of gaming machines 1 and inter-game machines 2 are alternately arranged to form a gaming island. One relay device 3 is installed in each game island, and all the inter-machines in the game island are connected to the relay device 3 installed in the game island by a communication line provided in the game island. 4 for data communication. In addition, the gaming machine 1 and the booth machine 2 associated with the gaming machine 1
It is connected via a communication line 5 so that data communication is possible.

The gaming shop further issues a card vending machine 6 which issues (sells) a gaming card in which a valuable value corresponding to the input amount is recorded, and adjusts the balance of the valuable value recorded in the gaming card. A card settlement machine 7 for paying out money corresponding to the balance and a hall management device 8 composed of a personal computer are installed. The relay device 3, the card vending machine 6, and the card settlement machine 7 are connected to a hall management device 8 via a communication line 9 so as to be able to perform data communication, and the hall management device 8 connects a communication line L such as a public telephone line. Through this, it is communicably connected to a center management device C of a system management company that manages this card-type gaming system.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram showing the electric configuration of the gaming machine 1 and the inter-stand machine 2 associated therewith. A pachinko machine as an example of the gaming machine 1 has a main control board 11 and a pachinko ball payout apparatus board 1 connected to a pachinko ball payout apparatus 15 for paying out pachinko balls from inside the machine.
2 and each part relating to the lending of pachinko balls (for example, a lending permission / inhibition lamp 16 for indicating whether lending of pachinko balls is possible, a card for displaying the balance of value recorded on the game card) The lending board 13 to which the balance display section 17, the pachinko ball lending button 18 for instructing the lending of the pachinko balls, and the card return button 19 for instructing the return of the game card inserted in the inter-machine 2 are connected. And an interface board 1 on which an interface circuit (not shown) for controlling communication with the inter-machine 2 is mounted.
4 are provided. The interface board 14 includes
The main control board 11, the pachinko ball payout board 12 and the rental board 13 are connected.

On the other hand, the machine control board 21
Is provided. The card insertion / inhibition indicator lamp 221 of the card insertion / ejection unit 22
Also, a card insertion indicator lamp 222 and a currency insertion availability indicator lamp 231 of the currency insertion unit 23 are connected, and these lamps 221, 222, and 231 are used to turn on / off a drive signal from the machine control board 21. Turns on / off according to. The card insertion enable / disable indicator lamp 221 is a lamp for indicating whether or not a game card can be inserted into the inter-stand machine 2.
It is a lamp for indicating that a game card has been inserted into the inter-table machine 2. In addition, a currency insertion availability indicator lamp 23
Reference numeral 1 denotes a lamp for indicating whether or not money can be inserted into the machine 2.

The board control board 21 is also connected to the interface board 14 of the gaming machine 1 so that
Data can be transmitted and received between the board control board 21 and the main control board 11, the pachinko ball payout apparatus board 12 and the rental board 13 via the interface board 14. For example, data required for controlling each unit related to pachinko ball lending is transmitted and received between the inter-table machine control board 21 and the main control board 11, the pachinko ball payout apparatus board 12 and the lending board 13 of the gaming machine 1. . In order to monitor the game control elements provided on the main control board 11, ID number data is transmitted from the main control board 11 to the inter-machine control board 21 at a constant cycle.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the main control board 11. As shown in FIG. The main control board 11 includes C as game control elements for controlling the game in the gaming machine 1.
A PU 111, a RAM 112, and a ROM 113 are provided. In this embodiment, the CPU 111 and the RAM 1
12 and ROM 113 are integrated into one chip,
The main control board 1 in the form of a so-called one-chip microcomputer 114
1 is implemented. Further, the main control board 11 is provided with a power supply 115 composed of, for example, a lithium ion secondary battery so that the CPU 111 and the like can operate even after the power supply of the gaming machine 1 is turned off.

CPU 111, RAM 112 and ROM
Reference numerals 113 are mutually connected by a data bus 116.
The data bus 116 includes a pachinko ball dispensing device substrate 1
2. A display control board for controlling the display operation of the symbol display, a display lamp board to which various display lamps are connected, a voice control board for controlling the voice output from the speaker, and the like are connected. The data bus 116 is connected to the inter-machine control board 21 of the inter-machine 2 via the interface board 14 and the communication line 5 (see FIG. 2).

The ROM 113 stores a game control program.
By executing 1, a basic operation of a game in the gaming machine 1 (for example, a jackpot lottery for determining whether or not to execute a jackpot game) is realized. The ROM 113 stores ID number data (identification data) unique to the one-chip microcomputer 114 provided with the ROM 113, and the CPU 111 operates at predetermined time intervals (for example, 1 to several hundred ms). ROM11
3 is read from the ID number data, and the read ID is read.
The number data is transmitted to the machine control board 21 of the machine 2. The transmission of the ID number data by the CPU 111
Whether the power of the gaming machine 1 is turned on or off,
In addition, regardless of whether the game is being played or not being played, the game is performed at the predetermined time interval. When the power of the gaming machine 1 is turned off, the CPU 115
1 is supplied with an operating voltage.

In order to prevent unauthorized replacement or modification of the main control board 11, the main control board 11 is housed in a swaged board case 117 which is difficult to open without leaving any trace. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the machine control board 21. The board-to-machine control board 21 includes:
CPU 211 as a control center, RAM 212 to which data is temporarily written when this CPU 211 operates
And a ROM 213 in which a control program is recorded. The machine control board 21 includes the machine 2
For example, a power supply 214 composed of a lithium ion secondary battery is provided so that the CPU 211 and the like can operate even after the power supply of the power supply is cut off.

CPU 211, RAM 212 and ROM
213 are mutually connected by a data bus 215.
The data bus 215 is connected to the card insertion / ejection unit 22 and the money insertion unit 23. Further, the main control board 11, the pachinko ball payout apparatus board 12, and the rental board 13 of the gaming machine 1 are connected to the data bus 215 via the communication line 5. Further, the communication line 4 is connected to the data bus 215 so that the CPU 21
1 can perform data communication with the relay device 3 (see FIG. 1) via the communication line 4.

The data bus 215 is provided with ID number data transmitted from the one-chip microcomputer 114 of the main control board 11 at the predetermined time intervals via the communication line 5. The CPU 211 is a main control board 1
Based on the ID number data received from No. 1, it is determined whether the one-chip microcomputer 114 provided on the main control board 11 is an authorized one-chip microcomputer. This determination is made for the
ID is performed regardless of whether the power of is turned on or off, and whether the game is being played or not being played.
When the power of the inter-box machine 2 is turned off when the number data is received, the operation is performed using the voltage generated by the power supply 214.

In this embodiment, in order to prevent unauthorized exchange / remodeling of the machine control board 21, the machine control board 21 is difficult to open without leaving any trace. It is housed in case 216. FIG. 5 shows that a regular one-chip microcomputer 114 (CP
FIG. 21 is a diagram for describing a process for determining whether or not U21, RAM 212, and ROM 213) are mounted. The center management device C includes, for each hall, the device numbers of all the gaming machines 1 installed in the hall (numbers unique to each gaming machine 1) and the one-chip microcomputer 114 provided in the gaming machine 1. Of the list (ID number list data) created by associating the ID numbers with the ID numbers. The ID number list data held by the center management device C is transmitted to the hall management device 8 before the opening of the hall or when the gaming machine 1 is installed in the hall, for example.

The ID number list data sent from the center management device C to the hall management device 8 is stored in a memory (not shown) built in the center management device C.
Then, based on the ID number list data in the memory, toward one of the inter-machines 2 installed in the hall, one chip provided in the gaming machine 1 associated with the respective inter-machine 2 The normal ID number data of the microcomputer 114 is transmitted. The transmission of the ID number data may be performed, for example, every time the hall management device 8 receives the ID number list data, or may be performed at predetermined time intervals.

In each machine 2, the regular ID number data received from the hall management device 8 is stored in the RAM 212 (see FIG. 4) of the machine control board 21. On the other hand, as described above, the ID-number data transmitted from the main control board 11 of the gaming machine 1 at the predetermined time interval is given to the inter-machine control board 21. Inter-machine control board 21
CPU 211 (see FIG. 4)
When the D number data is received, the received ID number data is compared with the regular ID number data stored in the RAM 212, and when these data match, the regular control Chip microcomputer 11
4 is implemented. On the other hand, the main control board 11
If the received ID number data is different from the regular ID number data stored in the RAM 212, it is determined that the regular one-chip microcomputer 114 is not mounted on the main control board 11.

The CPU 211 of the machine control board 21
Monitors the cycle of receiving the ID number data from the main control board 11 of the gaming machine 1 (the time from receiving the ID number data to receiving the next ID number data).
While the normal one-chip microcomputer 114 provided on the main control board 11 is operating normally, the ID number data is transmitted at the above-mentioned predetermined time interval. The data input cycle should almost coincide with the predetermined time interval.
However, when a failure occurs in the one-chip microcomputer 114 or the regular one-chip microcomputer 114 is removed, the I-
The transmission of the D number data is interrupted, and the cycle of inputting the ID number data to the inter-machine control board 21 changes. Therefore,
While receiving the ID number data at a cycle equal to the predetermined time interval, the CPU 21 of the inter-machine control board 21 stores the regular one-chip microcomputer 11 in the main control board 11.
4 is provided, the one-chip microcomputer 114 determines that it is operating normally, and if the cycle of receiving the ID number data changes from the cycle equal to the predetermined time interval, the one-chip microcomputer 114 fails. Arose or
It is determined that the authorized one-chip microcomputer 114 has been removed from the main control board 11.

The determination result by the CPU 211 of the inter-machine control board 21 is transmitted from the inter-machine 2 (inter-machine control board 21) to the hall management device 8, and further transmitted from the hall management device 8 to the hall management device 8. Center management device C together with the device number of the gaming machine 1 associated with the machine
Sent to. Thus, the hall management device 8 can grasp the state of all the gaming machines 1 (one-chip microcomputer 114) installed in the hall, and the center management device C can recognize all the gaming machines constituting the gaming system. 1
You can grasp the state of.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the one-chip microcomputer 114 mounted on the main control board 11
Transmits the ID number data at predetermined time intervals to the inter-machine control board 21 of the inter-machine control board 2 and
Reference numeral 1 keeps monitoring whether the proper one-chip microcomputer 114 is mounted on the main control board 11 based on the ID number data given from the main control board 11.
Thus, when an illegal act such as illegal exchange of the one-chip microcomputer 114 is performed, the illegal act can be immediately detected.

In this embodiment, the main control board 1 of the gaming machine 1 is controlled by the CPU 211 of the inter-machine control board 21.
The cycle of receiving the ID number data from 1 is constantly monitored, and if this cycle changes, it is determined that the regular one-chip microcomputer 114 is not mounted on the main control board 11. Therefore, for example, in order to replace the legitimate one-chip microcomputer 114 mounted on the main control board 11 with an unauthorized one-chip microcomputer, the legitimate one-chip microcomputer 114 is removed from the main control board 11,
When the cycle of receiving the D number data changes, it is determined that the regular one-chip microcomputer 114 is not mounted on the main control board 11 at that time. Therefore, a fraudulent activity can be detected before a fraudulent one-chip microcomputer is attached to the main control board 11, and damage to the game store due to fraudulent acquisition of game media can be prevented.

It is to be noted that an abnormality notification lamp for notifying the abnormality to the gaming machine 1 or the inter-machine 2 is provided, and when it is determined that the regular one-chip microcomputer 114 is not mounted on the main control board 11, Preferably, the abnormality notification lamp is turned on. By doing this, for example,
During the opening hours of the hall, the official one-chip microcomputer 114
In the event that a fraudulent act such as exchanging the with a fraudulent one-chip microcomputer has been performed, the clerk at the hall can immediately know that the fraudulent act has been performed.

In the configuration of this embodiment, the ID number data is spontaneously transmitted from the one-chip microcomputer 114, and the command is given to the one-chip microcomputer 114 from an external device (such as the inter-machine 2). The ID number data is not transmitted from the one-chip microcomputer 114 in response. Therefore, it is possible to provide the gaming machine 1 that conforms to the law in which it is prohibited to give a command to the one-chip microcomputer 114 (CPU for game control) from outside for the reason of preventing the game operation from being adversely affected. .

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining another embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment described above,
Although the determination as to whether or not the proper one-chip microcomputer 114 is mounted on the main control board 11 is made in the machine control board 21, in this embodiment, the proper one-chip microcomputer 114 is used as the main control board 11. The hall management device 8 determines whether or not it is mounted. More specifically, the inter-machine control board 21 is provided with ID number data transmitted from the main control board 11 of the gaming machine 1 at the predetermined time intervals. In this embodiment,
When receiving the ID number data from the main control board 11, the CPU 211 (see FIG. 4) of the inter-machine control board 21 transmits the received ID number data to the hall management device 8. That is, the ID number data transmitted from the main control board 11 of the gaming machine 1 is provided to the hall management device 8 via the inter-machine device 2.

The memory (not shown) of the hall management device 8 stores the ID number list data received from the center management device C. When the ID number data is sent to the hall management device 8, the correspondence between the ID number data and the device number of the gaming machine 1 that is the transmission source of the ID number data is determined by the ID number stored in the memory. Confirmed based on list data. If the correspondence between the received ID number data and the device number of the gaming machine 1 is correct,
It is determined that the regular one-chip microcomputer 114 is mounted on the main control board 11. On the other hand, if the correspondence is not correct, it is determined that the main control board 11 is not mounted with the proper one-chip microcomputer 114.

In this embodiment, the transmission of the regular ID number data from the hall management device 8 to the machine 2 is not performed. Further, in the hall management device 8, the cycle of receiving the ID number data is constantly monitored, and while the ID number data is sent at a cycle equal to the above-mentioned predetermined time interval, the main control board 11 has a regular number. Of the one-chip microcomputer 114 is provided.
14 is determined to be operating normally, and if the cycle of receiving the ID number data changes from a cycle equal to the predetermined time interval, the one-chip microcomputer 114 has failed or It is determined that it has been removed from the control board 11.

The judgment result in the hall management device 8 is I
The D number data is transmitted to the center management device C together with the device number of the gaming machine 1 that is the transmission source. If the gaming machine 1 or the machine 2 is provided with an abnormality notification lamp for notifying an abnormality, the judgment result in the hall management device 8 is used to control the turning on and off of the abnormality notification lamp. Is transmitted from the hall management device 8 to the gaming machine 1 as the transmission source of the ID number data or the inter-machine 2 associated with the gaming machine 1.

According to the configuration of this embodiment, the same effect as the configuration according to the above-described first embodiment can be obtained. In this embodiment, the hall management device 8 always monitors the cycle of receiving the ID number data. However, the inter-machine device 2 constantly monitors the cycle of receiving the ID number data. If it changes,
It may be determined that the proper one-chip microcomputer 114 is not mounted on the main control board 11. In this case, the determination result in the inter-machine 2 is transmitted from the inter-machine 2 to the hall management device 8, and is further associated with the inter-machine 2 as the transmission source of the determination result from the hall management device 8. It is preferable that the information is transmitted to the center management device C together with the device number of the gaming machine 1.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining still another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the center management device C determines whether or not the proper one-chip microcomputer 114 is mounted on the main control board 11. More specifically, the inter-machine control board 21 is provided with ID number data transmitted from the main control board 11 of the gaming machine 1 at the predetermined time intervals. In this embodiment, the main control board 11 to the machine control board 2
The ID number data given to 1
The information is provided to the hall management device 8 from the (inter-machine 2), and further provided to the center management device C from the hall management device 8.
That is, the ID sent from the main control board 11 of the gaming machine 1
The number data is provided to the center management device C via the inter-machine 2 and the hall management device 8.

When the ID number data is sent to the center management device C, the correspondence between the ID number data and the device number of the gaming machine 1 as the transmission source of the ID number data is held in the center management device C. It is confirmed on the basis of the ID number list data. Then, if the correspondence between the received ID number data and the device number of the gaming machine 1 is correct, it is determined that the regular one-chip microcomputer 114 is mounted on the main control board 11. On the other hand, if the correspondence is not correct, it is determined that the main control board 11 is not mounted with the proper one-chip microcomputer 114.

In this embodiment, the center management apparatus C does not transmit the ID number list data to the hall management apparatus 8, and the hall management apparatus 8 transmits the regular ID number data to the inter-machine 2. Of course not. In the center management device C, the cycle of receiving the ID number data is constantly monitored, and while the ID number data is sent at a cycle equal to the above-mentioned predetermined time interval, the main control board 11 has a regular period. If the one-chip microcomputer 114 is determined to be operating normally and the cycle of receiving the ID number data changes from a cycle equal to the predetermined time interval,
It is determined whether a failure has occurred in the one-chip microcomputer 114 or the regular one-chip microcomputer 114 has been removed from the main control board 11.

When the gaming machine 1 or the machine 2 is provided with an abnormality notification lamp for notifying an abnormality, the center management device C is used to control turning on and off of the abnormality notification lamp. Is sent from the center management device C to the hall management device 8, and the gaming machine 1 which is the transmission source of the ID number data from the hall management device 8
Alternatively, the information is transmitted to the inter-machine 2 associated with the gaming machine 1. According to the configuration of this embodiment, the same effects as those of the above-described first and second embodiments can be obtained.

In this embodiment, the cycle of receiving the ID number data is always monitored in the center management device C. However, the cycle of receiving the ID number data is always monitored in the inter-device 2. When this cycle changes, the main control board 11 has a regular one-chip microcomputer 1
14 may not be implemented. In this case, the determination result in the inter-machine 2 is transmitted from the inter-machine 2 to the hall management device 8, and is further associated with the inter-machine 2 as the transmission source of the determination result from the hall management device 8. It is preferable that the information is transmitted to the center management device C together with the device number of the gaming machine 1. Further, the cycle of receiving the ID number data is constantly monitored in the hall management device 8,
When this cycle changes, it may be determined that the regular one-chip microcomputer 114 is not mounted on the main control board 11. In this case, the determination result in the hall management device 8 is transmitted from the hall management device 8 to the center management device C, and when the gaming machine 1 or the machine 2 is provided with an abnormality notification lamp for reporting an abnormality. Is the ID
Gaming machine 1 that is the source of the number data or this gaming machine 1
It is preferable that the information is transmitted to the inter-frame device 2 associated with.

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention can be embodied in other forms. For example, in each of the above embodiments,
ID number data sent to the machine 2
Although both the determination based on the comparison with the D number data and the determination based on the reception cycle of the ID number data sent to the inter-machine 2 or the like are performed, only one of the determinations may be performed. . Also, ID number data and regular ID
Instead of, or in addition to, the determination method based on the comparison with the number data and the determination method based on the reception cycle of the ID number data, the regular one-chip microcomputer 114 is mounted on the main control board 11 of the gaming machine 1. At least a new ID is stored in the memory of the device (the inter-machine 2, the hall management device 8, or the center management device C) that determines whether or not there is
Until the number data is received, the previously received ID number data is stored, and in response to receiving the new ID number data, the received ID number data and the ID number stored in the memory are stored. Check with the data,
Received ID number data and ID stored in memory
If the number data matches, a method of determining that the proper one-chip microcomputer 114 is mounted on the main control board 11 may be adopted. If this method is adopted instead of the determination method based on the collation of the ID number data with the regular ID number data, the ID number list data becomes unnecessary, and the data to be stored in the hall management device 8 is not required. The amount can be greatly reduced.

In addition, various design changes can be made within the scope of the matters described in the claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a card-type game system in which a game control element monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram showing an electric configuration of a gaming machine and a stand-to-stand machine associated with the gaming machine.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a main control board provided in the gaming machine.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a machine control board provided in the machine.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a process for determining whether a regular game control element is mounted on the main control board.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gaming machine 2 machine 8 Hall management device 11 Main control board 111 CPU 112 RAM 113 ROM 114 One chip microcomputer 115 Power supply 116 Data bus 117 Board case 21 Machine control board 212 CPU 212 RAM 213 ROM 214 Power supply 215 Data bus 216 Board case C center management device

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A system for monitoring a game control element provided in a gaming machine, comprising: a gaming machine; and a monitoring device connected to the gaming machine so as to be able to perform data communication. The device includes a unique data storage unit that stores data unique to the game control device, and the gaming machine sends the data stored in the unique data storage unit to the monitoring device at predetermined time intervals. The monitoring device includes a unique data transmitting unit that transmits the data spontaneously, and based on the data transmitted from the gaming machine, the gaming control element provided in the gaming machine is a regular one. A monitoring system for a game control element, comprising: a determination unit for determining whether or not the game control element is a game control element. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determining means determines that said gaming machine is provided with a regular game control element while data is being received from said gaming machine at said predetermined time interval. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for determining that the gaming machine is not provided with a proper gaming control element in response to the data being no longer received from the gaming machine at the predetermined time interval. 2. A monitoring system for a game control element according to claim 1. 3. The determining means determines that the game machine is provided with a regular game control element while receiving the same value data from the game machine. 3. The game control according to claim 1, further comprising means for determining that the game machine is not provided with a proper game control element in response to a change in the value of the received data. Element monitoring system. 4. The monitoring device further includes regular data storage means for storing data unique to a game control element provided in the game machine, wherein the determination means receives the data from the game machine. The data is compared with the data stored in the regular data storage means. If the data received from the gaming machine matches the data stored in the regular data storage means, the regular It is determined that the game control element is provided, and when the data received from the gaming machine does not match the data stored in the regular data storage means, the gaming machine has a regular game control element. 2. A device according to claim 1, further comprising means for determining that no element is provided.
4. The monitoring system for a game control element according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. An integrated circuit device for reading a game control program for controlling a game in a gaming machine from a storage element and executing a process based on the read game control program, the data being unique to the storage element. A unique data transmitting means for spontaneously transmitting at a predetermined time interval to a monitoring device connected to the gaming machine so as to be capable of data communication. 6. A game control board provided in a gaming machine for controlling a game in the gaming machine, a storage element storing a game control program for controlling a game in the gaming machine, And an integrated circuit element for executing a process based on the read game control program. The integrated circuit element stores data unique to the storage element,
A game control board, comprising: a unique data transmitting means for spontaneously transmitting at a predetermined time interval to a monitoring device connected to the gaming machine so as to be capable of data communication. 7. A game machine whose operation is controlled in accordance with a game control program stored in a game control element, wherein said game control element is provided with said game control element and stores data unique to said game control element. A gaming machine comprising: a unique data storage unit; and a unique data transmission unit that spontaneously transmits data stored in the unique data storage unit to the monitoring device at predetermined time intervals. 8. A monitoring device connected to a gaming machine so as to be able to perform data communication, provided on the gaming machine based on data spontaneously transmitted from the gaming machine at predetermined time intervals. A monitoring device comprising: a determination unit configured to determine whether a game control element is a regular one.