JP2004215715A - Inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inspection device capable of easily inspecting the presence/absence of a illegal act. <P>SOLUTION: The inspection device 50 is constituted by incorporating a communication mechanism for performing bidirectional communication with a device to be an inspection object, a game machine 10 or monitoring and controlling devices 20 and 30 for monitoring the operation for instance, and a processing means in a portable case body. The processing means acquires information indicating operation conditions or the information for collation from the game machine 10 or the monitoring and controlling devices 20 and 30 through the communication mechanism, judges the consistency of the acquired information and the information held by itself and discriminates whether or not the device to be the inspection object is proper by the judged result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technique for detecting illegal alteration added to a gaming machine, an abnormal operation state of the gaming machine, and the like, and for suppressing damage caused by these.
[0002]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known in the gaming industry that "goto" is performed in games such as pachinko and pachislot. The “goto action” is an action of acquiring a game ball or the like by an illegal means without using a regular game.
There are various kinds of goto acts, and if electronic control technology is not used to control the gaming machine, use magnets, cells, piano wires, illegal balls (such as small balls, oil balls), or go to the prize road. Something like making a back road (drilling) was done. Such a goto is still practiced as a classic technique even today.
[0003]
In recent years, the control mechanism of a gaming machine has been digitized, and a new method of goto action has appeared in response thereto. Typical examples are radio waves using radio waves, and unauthorized modification of game programs that specify game contents. The radio wave goto is to illegally control a sensor or a control mechanism (e.g., irradiating an electromagnetic wave aiming at a hit position) using radio waves, and the illegal remodeling of a game program is performed by, for example, a ROM (for example, a ROM storing a regular game program). Read Only Memory) may be replaced with an unauthorized "back ROM", or a ROM socket may be attached with a "back ROM" and illegally modified.
[0004]
The game arcade responds to radio waves by installing a radio wave sensor outside the game machine or by mounting a radio wave shielding sheet on the front glass of the game machine. The existing radio sensors cannot detect radio waves that cannot be detected by a radio sensor or the like, and new measures are needed.
[0005]
For illegal modification of game programs, security measures have been taken in which the ROM is integrated into a single chip together with the main control processor and peripheral circuits, and the ROM is mounted on the gaming machine. In some cases, a board equipped with a is illegally replaced, and in this case, security measures become meaningless. Also, recently, fake products with a similar appearance that are difficult to determine even on X-rays have become widespread and their attachment has become more sophisticated, making it extremely difficult to determine whether they are genuine. An ID checker that checks a chip or a processor mounted on the chip when the date and time of manufacture or a random number or the like is written at the time of manufacturing the chip as an ID of a gaming machine, and a verification machine that checks authenticity have been introduced. Such techniques, while effective in certain planned tampering schemes, are ineffective against other tampering schemes.
[0006]
Goto acts impairs the fairness of gaming, which is an absolute business requirement, such that a fraudster (referred to as a "goto teacher") gains undue profit thereby, and loses a good fan. As a result, it causes fan separation and the decline of the gaming industry. To promote social recognition of the industry and soundness of the gaming industry, it is inevitable to eliminate goto behavior, and new goto countermeasures are desired.
[0007]
One of the obstacles to the conventional eradication of goto activities is that security measures against goto activities are based on the idea of thinking behind the scenes, as each time a new method of goto activity is discovered, a solution is considered. Conceivable.
Against this background, the present invention provides a mechanism for easily detecting a goto act and losing motivation for a new goto act to a goto teacher, regardless of the goto act. More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inspection device for inspecting the validity of game control in a gaming machine.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An inspection apparatus according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is an apparatus for inspecting the correctness of the operation of a gaming machine equipped with a monitoring control device for performing operation monitoring control of a game control means for performing a predetermined game control operation. The portable housing has a built-in communication mechanism for performing two-way communication with the monitoring control device, and processing means including a memory and a processor. The monitoring control device monitors the legitimacy of the operation in the game control means by comparing the verification information held by the device with the monitoring information indicating the operation status of the game control means.
In the memory, the same verification information and the same inspection program as the verification information of the monitoring control device are recorded, and the processing means includes an inspection program in which the processor is recorded in the memory. To obtain the verification information held by the monitoring control device from the monitoring control device through the communication mechanism, and determine the consistency between the obtained verification information and the verification information recorded in the memory. Then, it is configured to determine whether the operation of the game control means or the monitoring control device is valid based on the determination result.
The "verification information" refers to programs, data, valid answer information for previously prepared question information, valid operation information that would be obtained if the game control operation was valid, and other general information that can be used for verification.
In addition, “consistency” refers to, for example, a case where identity is recognized with a plurality of pieces of target information, a case where there is a predetermined correspondence between a plurality of pieces of information such as a password, and the like. . The determination of consistency when a plurality of pieces of target information are programs includes, for example, a confirmation method using a hash value.
[0009]
In this inspection device, the processing unit records, for example, information indicating the content of a valid control operation to be performed by the game control unit in the memory as one of the check information, Is acquired through the monitoring control device, and the consistency between the acquired information and the information recorded in the memory is determined.
[0010]
Another inspection device of the present invention is a device for inspecting the legitimacy of a gaming machine having a game control means for performing a predetermined game control operation, and includes a portable housing, It has a built-in communication mechanism for performing two-way communication and processing means including a memory and a processor.
In the memory, matching information indicating the validity of the operation in the game control unit and an inspection program are recorded, and the processing unit is configured to execute the inspection program stored in the memory by the processor. By executing the information, the information representing the operation status is acquired from the game control means through the communication mechanism, and the consistency between the acquired information and the matching information recorded in the memory is determined. Is configured to determine whether the operation of the game control means is valid.
From the viewpoint of suppressing the spread of damage when determined to be unfair, the processing means may substantially stop the operation of the game control means when the operation of the game control means is determined to be unreasonable. To be configured.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a game monitoring and control system that performs integrated monitoring and control of game control of each game machine in a game arcade installed in “island” units composed of a plurality of game machine groups Will be described.
The gaming machines planned by the present invention are pachinko machines, pachislot machines, and all other gaming machines in which the occurrence of illegal acts such as goto is expected, but here, for convenience of explanation, examples of pachinko machines will be described. .
[0012]
[overall structure]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a game monitoring control system 1 according to the present embodiment.
The game monitoring and control system 1 includes a plurality of monitoring and control devices fixedly provided in a game arcade and a portable inspection device.
Among the plurality of monitoring control devices, those provided inside the gaming machine 10 belonging to the island are respectively set as the first stage, and those connected to these first stage monitoring control devices are set as the next stage monitoring control devices. Further, a device connected adjacent to the next-stage monitoring and control device is referred to as a third-stage monitoring and control device. The monitoring control device of each stage is provided outside the monitoring control device of the preceding stage.
[0013]
In this embodiment, the number of stages is three, and the first stage monitoring control device is the game monitoring control device 20, the next stage monitoring control device is the external monitoring control device 30, and the third stage monitoring control device is the integrated monitoring control device 40. I do. That is, one external monitoring and control device 30 is provided for each island, and one integrated monitoring and control device 40 is provided to integrally monitor and control all the external monitoring and control devices 30 corresponding to each island. The game monitoring and control device 20 operates as an agent that operates under the command and supervision of the external monitoring and control device 30, and the external monitoring and control device 30 operates as an agent that operates under the command and supervision of the integrated monitoring and control device 40.
Note that the number of stages of the monitoring control device is not limited to the example of this embodiment, and may be arbitrary.
[0014]
The external monitoring and control device 30 only needs to be “outside” the game monitoring and controlling device 20, and therefore may be present at any part in the gaming machine 10 or outside the gaming machine 10, for example. In addition, the gaming machine 10 may be provided independently at a predetermined portion of each island, or may be provided one-to-one with the gaming machine 10 in a lending machine (hereinafter, “sand”) provided between gaming machines.
Some of the current sands are provided with a display for displaying information such as the number of jackpots and various sensors for jackpot detection. Therefore, providing the external monitoring and control device 30 in the sand requires components existing in the sand. There is an advantage that can be utilized as it is. In addition, by providing the external monitoring and control device 30 in the sand, it is not necessary to secure a dedicated installation area for the external monitoring and control device 30, so that it can be easily added and installed, and a payout processor of a gaming machine for lending a ball. Are separately connected, if the connection is changed to the external monitoring and control device 30, the game monitoring and control device 20, and the payout processor, there is an advantage that wiring and the like are simplified. However, a new connection requires a payout information transmission mechanism.
[0015]
The integrated monitoring and control device 40 may also be provided “outside” the external monitoring and control device 30, and may be provided at an arbitrary place in the game arcade or outside the game arcade.
[0016]
Each game monitoring control device 20 and the external monitoring control device 30 are connected to each other via a first communication line B11. The external monitoring and control device 30 and the integrated monitoring and control device 40 are connected to each other via a second communication line B12. The first communication line B11 is, for example, a site computer network laid in the site. The second communication line B12 is an on-site computer network or a public communication line. When a public communication line is used, it is preferable to use a virtual dedicated line (known virtual private network: VPN) virtually made into a dedicated line by encryption technology.
[0017]
The inspection device 50 is also a kind of monitoring and control device, and is different from other monitoring and control devices in that the inspection device 50 can be connected to a monitoring and control device at an arbitrary stage by wireless or wire.
Hereinafter, a configuration example of the gaming machine 10 and each of the devices 20, 30, 40, and 50 will be specifically described.
<Game machines>
The gaming machine 10 is a known one, and the main part thereof is shown in FIG. That is, the gaming machine 10 basically operates as the gaming machine 10 such as a gaming mechanism for pachinko games including ball management, a sound / lamp control mechanism, various sensors / switches, an error detection mechanism, a ball replenishing mechanism, and the like. A mechanism 11A, a power supply mechanism 11B for supplying power to each electronic component of the gaming machine 10, a rendering mechanism 11C for allowing the player to enjoy pachinko games in various forms, a basic mechanism 11A, and a rendering. A game control board 12 for controlling the mechanism 11C is provided. The sensor is, for example, a game sensor for detecting a prize or detecting the passage of a prize ball. The switch is, for example, a winning ball count switch, a starting switch, a winning opening gate switch, or the like. A lottery for a prize triggered by the player operating the gaming mechanism, a mechanism for facilitating the prize, a so-called starting of an accessory, etc. are performed by the staging mechanism 11C triggered by ON / OFF of various switches. Done.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 3, the game control board 12 is provided with a core processor 121, a RAM 122, an EEPROM (electrically erasable ROM) 123, and an input / output interface mechanism 124 connected through an internal bus B13. . The internal bus B13 includes an address bus, a control bus, and a data bus.
The EEPROM 123 includes a game program read and executed by the core processor 121 (hereinafter, in this embodiment, the “game program” includes not only the program itself but also various parameters or data embedded in the program body. If they can be identified with the program, these parameters or data may be used.). In the RAM 122, for example, an execution result by the core processor 121 and other information are recorded. The input / output interface mechanism 124 is connected to the electronic components (including the sensor / switch controller) of the basic mechanism 11A and the controller of the effect mechanism 11C.
[0019]
The core processor 121 reads and executes the above-mentioned game program, thereby performing various controls relating to the game including the operation control of the basic mechanism 11A and the production mechanism 11C. The control information and the information indicating the execution result by the core processor 121 are transmitted via the internal bus B13.
When a game program is read by the core processor 121 in this embodiment, a memory address (address bus) storing the game program to be read is stored in an address bus, a control bus, and a data bus, and the read game program (data bus) is read. ) Is output, and reading of the game program (control bus) can be understood only by monitoring these buses. As a result, the game monitoring control device 20 and the like, which will be described later, can fetch the game program stored at the corresponding address in the RAM 122 and the EEPROM 123.
Most of the above-mentioned goto actions target the game control board 12, especially the EEPROM 123.
[0020]
<Game monitoring control device>
The game monitoring control device 20 exists as one package product independent of the game control board 12 of the gaming machine 10.
[0021]
In the package housing, as shown in FIG. 4, a bus controller 21 for controlling connection to the internal bus B13 of the game control board 12, and a communication for controlling connection to the above-described first communication line B11. A control unit 22, a nonvolatile RAM 23, a volatile buffer memory 24, an EEPROM 25, a control processor 26, a random number generation circuit 27, and an input / output interface mechanism 28 are provided. These components are interconnected via an internal bus B14.
The random number generation circuit 27 is a circuit that generates a random number in response to a request when the random number is used as a part of information transmitted to the game control board 12 or the like, for example. It starts when the security of information when transmitting the first communication line B11 and the internal bus B13 is regarded as important, and generates a random number.
[0022]
The input / output interface mechanism 28 includes monitoring target components provided in the gaming machine 10, such as the game control board 12 described above, a payout processor with a built-in memory for controlling a payout mechanism of a ball at the time of winning, a controller of an operation handle, and the like. The components, the above-mentioned game sensors, and the like are connected. Of the monitored components, those that output information indicating the situation (including game information) during operation are input to the control processor 26 via the input / output interface mechanism 28. For example, the payout processor itself has a specific plurality of I / O (input / output) addresses, and transfers game information such as jackpot information, winning information, and payout end information recorded in a built-in memory to the I / O address. It has the function of sending to the / O address at any time. The game information output from the payout processor may be several tens to more than 100 types. This is because there are usually a plurality of winning opening locations and winning methods, and there is an enormous variation in which winning opening and in what form. It would be very convenient if such game information could be automatically collected by the game monitoring and control device 20.
The information output from the monitoring target component includes, in addition to the above-described operating status (including game information), answer information when question information described later is input to the monitoring target component. Information that can indirectly specify the execution result of the game program on the game control board 12 or execution result information of the game may be used.
[0023]
In the EEPROM 25, a monitoring control program (including parameters and other data) for performing monitoring control of the gaming machine 10 in cooperation with the external monitoring control device 30 is recorded. In the RAM 23, the monitoring instruction information (command) sent from the external monitoring and control device 30, the validity determination data received from the external monitoring and control device 30 or generated in the own device, and the alarm information are updated freely. Be recorded.
[0024]
The validity determination data is information for confirming the validity of the operation of the game control board 12 and other monitored components, and is, for example, a collation program (preferably a game program) having substantially the same contents as the game program. Copy), question information consisting of a set of a plurality of data, valid answer information that should be answered from the question destination if valid, and information obtained if the monitoring target component operates properly (including the control operation). The information includes legal operation information, an encryption key, a decryption key, and alarm information to be described later.
Information other than the verification program is recorded in a table in which pairs of information are linked to each other, such as valid answer information for question information, valid operation information for valid operation status, and a decryption key for an encryption key.
[0025]
The buffer memory 24 is a work memory when the control processor 26 performs information processing. The buffer memory 24 is information that can directly or indirectly specify the content of the game program. Various types of information such as execution result information are appropriately recorded.
[0026]
In this embodiment, the control processor 26 reads out and executes the monitoring control program recorded in the EEPROM 25, so that various functions as shown in FIG. An authentication unit 261 for performing mutual authentication, a data management unit 262 for managing identification data used for determining the validity of the operation of the gaming machine 10, and a self-authentication unit based on the data managed by the data management unit 262. And an operation monitoring unit 263 for monitoring the operation of all the game control boards 12 and other monitoring target components under the command and supervision of the game control board 12 to determine the validity of the operation. An operation restriction unit 264 for restricting the operation of part or all of the parts, and alarm information for outputting alarm information prepared in advance for a display device, an external system, or the like To form the radical 19 265.
The alarm information is recorded in the RAM 23 by linking identification information indicating a predetermined situation and alarm information corresponding to the identification information.
[0027]
The authentication unit 261 and the operation monitoring unit 263 are activated before starting the game by the gaming machine to perform authentication (confirmation of validity), and when the validity is not confirmed at this time, control by the operation restriction unit 264 is started. Even after the validity is confirmed, the game machine operates at an arbitrary timing after the game is started by the gaming machine, and the validity can be confirmed at any time.
[0028]
The data management unit 262 has a function of recording the validity determination data in the RAM 23 in an updatable manner and reading the validity determination data in response to a request from the operation monitoring unit 263.
[0029]
The operation restriction unit 264 is a function of substantially restricting a game in the gaming machine 10. Examples of the restriction include, for example, causing an interruption in the core processor 121 of the game control board 12 to forcibly stop the core processor 121, or resetting the core processor 121. The operation handle provided in the gaming machine 10 may be disabled. The restriction on the game is continued until a signal indicating that the validity is confirmed is output from the operation monitoring unit 263 to the operation restriction unit 264.
[0030]
Here, a specific configuration of the operation monitoring unit 263 and an aspect of operation monitoring will be described.
The configuration of the operation monitoring unit 263 can take any of the following. These can be selected in consideration of the functions of the game control board 12 and the functions of the external monitoring and control device 30. It is also possible to adopt a configuration that satisfies all of the following aspects, and to switch between them by software.
[0031]
(1-1) The game control board 12 and other monitored components (hereinafter referred to as the game control board 12 And the like, and receives (decodes, if necessary) answer information to the question information from the game control board 12 or the like, and matches the received answer information with the valid answer information recorded in the RAM 23. Determine gender. Then, based on the result of this determination, it is determined whether the game control board 12 or the like is valid or invalid.
Preferably, the question information is transmitted a plurality of times in a predetermined transmission pattern, and the reception pattern of the answer information for each question information can be detected, and the consistency between the transmission pattern and the reception pattern is also determined.
[0032]
(1-2) Obtain monitoring information indicating the control operation status of the game control board 12 and the like via the internal bus B13 without affecting these operations, and transmit the obtained monitoring information to the external monitoring control device 30. At the same time, there is provided an interface means for receiving, from the external monitoring and control device 30, validity discrimination information based on the transmission result, and discriminates whether the game control board 12 or the like is valid or not based on the received discrimination information. As a mode of acquiring the game program without affecting the operation, for example, when the game program is not read out from the EEPROM 123 (bus steal), it is confirmed to acquire the monitoring information or monitor the internal bus B13. Then, the information to be transmitted through the internal bus B13 is picked up. When the game program itself is used as the monitoring information, it is read from the EEPROM 123.
Note that the acquisition of the monitoring information may be performed in accordance with a command sent from the external monitoring and control device 30 or may be performed by oneself.
[0033]
(1-3) Without transmitting the obtained monitoring information to the external monitoring and control device 30, the compatibility with the legal operation information recorded in the RAM 23 is determined by itself, and the game control board 12 and the like are determined based on the determination result. Determine whether it is valid or not.
[0034]
(1-4) The game program recorded in the EEPROM 123 is read, the consistency between the read game program and the matching program recorded in the RAM 23 is determined, and the game control board 12 and the like are determined based on the determination result. Is valid or invalid. The reading of the game program here includes, in addition to the direct reading from the EEPROM 123, the case where the internal bus B13 is monitored and read through the internal bus B13.
(1-5) The game program to be used on the game control board 12 is copied as a collation program, which is recorded in the RAM 23.
[0035]
<External monitoring and control device>
The external monitoring control device 30 is a kind of computer having a communication function, and as shown in FIG. 6, a communication mechanism 31, a nonvolatile RAM 33, a buffer memory 34, an EEPROM 35, a control processor 36, a random number generation circuit 37, An input / output interface mechanism 38 and the like are provided. These components are interconnected via an internal bus B15.
[0036]
The communication mechanism 31 performs communication control for connecting to the first communication line B11 connected to the game monitoring control device 20 and the second communication line B12 connected to the integrated monitoring control device 40. The random number generation circuit 37 is a circuit used when a random number is used as a part of information transmitted to the game monitoring control device 20 and the like. An output device, an external output system, and the like are connected to the input / output interface mechanism 38.
[0037]
The external monitoring and control device 30 has an existing notification system via the second communication line B12 in consideration of a case where an abnormality has actually occurred or a case where unauthorized modification has been detected in the game monitoring and control device 20 based on the monitoring result. It is connected to the.
Note that the connection between the external monitoring and control apparatus 30 and the notification system may be performed via a dedicated line, a public line, or the above-described VPN.
[0038]
In the EEPROM 35, a monitoring control program (including parameters and data) for monitoring and controlling the gaming machine 10 in cooperation with the gaming monitoring control device 20 mounted on each gaming machine 10 is recorded.
In the RAM 33, various information for confirming the validity of the operation of the game monitoring and control device 20 and alarm information read out when the operation is improper are recorded. The buffer memory 34 is a work memory when the control processor 36 performs information processing, and records information that can directly or indirectly specify the operation content of each game monitoring control device 20 as appropriate.
[0039]
In this embodiment, the control processor 36 reads and executes the monitoring control program recorded in the EEPROM 35, and as shown in FIG. 7, the security authentication unit 361, the data management unit 362, and the game information analysis unit 363, as shown in FIG. Form the function of
[0040]
The security authentication unit 361 determines whether a verification program that is a copy of the game program recorded in the EEPROM 123 of the game control board 12 is transmitted from each game monitoring control device 20 and recorded in the buffer memory 34, Its operation is different.
When the verification program is not recorded, the security authentication unit 361 accesses each game monitoring control device 20 and performs mutual authentication. Mutual authentication is performed by a known challenge response method or the like. Then, when there is a game monitoring and control device 20 that has failed in mutual authentication, the game monitoring and control device 20 outputs alarm information because there is a possibility that the game monitoring and control device 20 is improper.
[0041]
If the matching program from any of the game monitoring control devices 20 is recorded in the buffer memory 34, the consistency between the game program sent from the game monitoring control device 20 and the matching program is checked, and the matching is obtained. If so, the game monitoring control device 20 that sent the program is determined to be valid.
As the consistency check between programs, any one of the following methods is arbitrarily selected.
[0042]
(2-1) Check Using Hash Value The initial value (key) for calculating the hash value is stored in the control processor 36 in a secret manner in advance. Utilizing this, a hash value for the verification program is calculated by a secret algorithm. Then, it is checked whether the obtained hash value is the same as the previously recorded hash value. If they are the same, it is determined that there is consistency.
As another method, for example, a hash value is calculated using a key uniquely set by a gaming machine maker (the content may be changed for each unit or for each of a plurality of units (models)), and a hash value and a key ( If it is different for each device, it can be used as unique identification information. It is necessary to record the information secretly in the game monitoring and control device.) A signature signed by a public key given by the processor supplier is recorded in advance. Then, the hash value is recalculated by the secret algorithm using the secret key, the hash value and the key are calculated using the recorded public key, and the calculation result is compared with a previously recorded one. If they are the same, it is determined that the matching program has consistency.
[0043]
(2-2) An encrypted part of the collation program is recorded and then decrypted after a predetermined time has elapsed (or when the power of the game monitoring control device 20 is turned on again), and the result is encrypted. Check if it is consistent with the previous one. Instead of the hash value, a part of the program is used. For example, a secret key is used for encryption, and a public key is used for decryption, for example.
[0044]
(2-3) Check the consistency between the matching program prepared in advance and the matching program sent from the game monitoring control device 20. Here, the consistency means complete identity.
[0045]
The data management unit 362 records the verification program received from the game monitoring and control device 20 through the communication mechanism 31 and the second communication line B12 in the buffer memory 34, and distributes the game program to each game monitoring and control device 20. .
[0046]
The game information analysis unit 363, for example, the fact that there is a difference between the actual number of winning balls and the executed number of winning balls in the radio wave goto, the fact that the frequency of occurrence of big hits causes abnormal occurrence of big hits due to falling bra, etc., various ball passing In the event that the sensor has been removed, there will be no winning for a long time, and in the case of other various goto activities, in view of the fact that events other than the expected legal gaming situation will occur, these facts will be monitored and controlled. The game information is detected by analyzing the game information distributed from the device 20 (for example, by comparing the game information with information indicating a planned legal game state).
As a result, it is possible to easily detect whatever goto action occurs. If the exchange of information with the game monitoring and control device 20 is serial communication, the wiring becomes simpler and illegal wiring can be easily found. It is desirable to connect with light and electrically disconnect.
[0047]
<Integrated monitoring and control device>
The integrated monitoring and control device 40 is also a kind of computer having a communication function, and as shown in FIG. 8, a communication mechanism 41, a nonvolatile RAM 42, a buffer memory 43, an EEPROM 44, a control processor 45, and an input / output interface mechanism. 46 and the like are provided. These components are interconnected via an internal bus B16.
[0048]
The communication mechanism 41 performs bidirectional communication with the external monitoring and control device 30 via the second communication line B12. The input / output interface mechanism 46 is connected to a ball counter, a point-of-sale (POS) system, a game arcade management system for managing the operation of a game arcade connected to an in-game network (not shown), and the like. A card issuance device is connected in the case of a game arcade where a prepaid card game can be played, and a member management system and the like are connected in a game arcade where a membership game can be played.
[0049]
In the EEPROM 44, a monitoring control program (including parameters and data) for performing the monitoring control of the external monitoring control device 30 is recorded. In the RAM 42, a verification program transmitted from the external monitoring and control device 30, various information for confirming the validity of the operation of each external monitoring and control device 30, and alarm information are recorded. The buffer memory 43 is a work memory of the control processor 45.
[0050]
The functions formed by the control processor 45 and the monitoring control program recorded in the EEPROM 44 are almost the same as those of the external monitoring and control device 30. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, at least the functions of the security authentication unit 451, the data management unit 452, and the game information analysis unit 453 are formed.
[0051]
The security authentication unit 451 accesses the external monitoring and control apparatus 30 to perform mutual authentication. If there is an external monitoring and control apparatus 30 that has failed in the mutual authentication, the security authentication unit 451 determines that the external monitoring and control apparatus 30 may be invalid. , Read out the alarm information from the RAM 42 and output it.
[0052]
The data management unit 452 records and reads information for determining the validity of the operation of the external monitoring control device 30. If necessary, the collation program is recorded in the RAM 33 of the external monitoring and control device 30.
The game information analysis unit 453 analyzes the monitoring information and the game information of the game monitoring control device 20 received through the external monitoring control device 30, and generates sales management information.
[0053]
<Inspection device>
The inspection device 50 includes a communication mechanism for performing bidirectional communication with a device to be inspected, a control board for performing processing for inspection, an input device, And an output device.
The communication mechanism may be either a wired communication mechanism that performs contact-type communication through a cable or the like or a wireless communication mechanism that performs non-contact communication.
In the case of the wired communication mechanism, the input / output interface mechanism 124 or the internal bus B13 of the game control board 12, the input / output interface mechanism 28 or the internal bus B14 of the game monitoring control device 20, the input / output interface mechanism 38 of the external monitoring control device 30. Alternatively, they are connected to the internal bus B15, the input / output interface mechanism 46 of the integrated monitoring and control device 40, or the internal bus B16 through cables.
[0054]
In the case of the wireless communication mechanism, each of the input / output interface mechanism 28 of the game monitoring and control apparatus 20, the input / output interface mechanism 38 of the external monitoring and control apparatus 30, and the input and output interface mechanism 46 of the integrated monitoring and control apparatus 40 and the inside of the inspection apparatus. A wireless transmitting / receiving device or an infrared communication device or the like that operates in a frequency band in which the radio wave sensor does not respond is provided, and wireless communication is performed through these devices.
[0055]
As shown in FIG. 10, in addition to the communication mechanism 51, a nonvolatile RAM 52, a buffer memory 53, an EEPROM 54, and a control processor 55 are mounted on the control board, and an input device 57 and an output device 58 are connected. Input / output interface mechanism 56 is provided. These components are interconnected via an internal bus B17.
In the RAM 52, the verification information and the alarm information used for the inspection, which are input through the input device 57, are recorded. In the EEPROM 54, the inspection program is recorded. The buffer memory 53 is a work memory of the control processor 55. When the control processor 55 executes the inspection program, it constitutes processing means. This processing means acquires, via a communication mechanism, collation information held by the apparatus to be inspected from the apparatus to be inspected, and determines consistency between the acquired collation information and the collation information recorded in the RAM 52, It has a function of determining whether the operation of the device is valid based on the determination result.
[0056]
The collation information includes information representing the contents of a legitimate operation to be performed by the device to be inspected, for example, a game program, the collation program described above, legitimate answer information to question information, legitimate operation information, and the like.
[0057]
As shown in FIG. 11, the functions formed by the control processor 55 and the inspection program recorded in the EEPROM 54 are at least the functions of the security authentication unit 551 and the data management unit 552.
[0058]
The security authentication unit 551 accesses the device to be inspected and performs mutual authentication. If there is a device that failed in the mutual authentication, the device may be invalid, and the alarm information is output to the output device 58. Output. The data management unit 552 records and reads information for determining the validity of the operation of the device to be inspected.
[0059]
[Operation form]
Next, an operation mode of the game monitoring control system 1 of the present embodiment will be described.
Although there are various variations in the operation mode, each of the modes is intended to ultimately monitor the validity of the game control in the game machine 10 and limit the operation by the game machine 10 when the game control is inappropriate. And
[0060]
(First operation mode)
In the first mode of operation, the integrated supervisory control device 40 operates the external supervisory control device 30 located in the adjacent front stage as its own agent, and further, the external supervisory control device 30 operates in the game supervisory control device 20 located in the adjacent front stage. Is operated as its own agent.
FIG. 12 is a procedure diagram of the simplest operation mode.
・ Step S11
Mutual authentication is performed between the integrated monitoring and control apparatus 40 and the external monitoring and control apparatus 30. If the authentication result is valid, monitoring instruction information is output to the external monitoring and control apparatus 30. Here, the monitoring instruction information is a command representing the instruction content, and data and programs (hereinafter, commands, etc.) necessary for executing the command.
・ Step S12
The external monitoring and control device 30 authenticates the game monitoring and control device 20 through the security authentication unit 361, and then transmits the command and the like received from the integrated monitoring and control device 40 to the game monitoring and control device 20 as needed.
・ Steps S13 to S15
The game monitoring and control device 20 records the command and the like received from the external monitoring and control device 30 in the RAM 23 as necessary, and the operation monitoring unit 263 monitors the operation based on the command. An example of the contents of the operation monitoring is as follows.
[0061]
When the content of the command is a security check of the game program in the game control board 12, the operation monitoring unit 263 reads the game from the RAM 122 of the game control board 12 without affecting the game by the gaming machine 10. The program is read out via the internal bus B13, and is compared with the matching program managed by the data management unit 262. If there is a mismatch, the operation monitoring unit 263 operates the operation restriction unit 264 to substantially stop the operation of the game control board 12, or the alarm information output unit 265 indicates that there is a possibility of unauthorized modification. Is output.
[0062]
When the content of the command is the operation confirmation of the monitoring target component, the operation monitoring unit 263 returns the operation status of the monitoring target component from the transmission of the question information managed by the data management unit 262 and the response from the monitoring target component. When the phenomenon considered to be abnormal has occurred, the alarm information is read out and output to the outside.
[0063]
When the content of the command includes a response to the external monitoring and control device 30 of the execution result or the operating status of the gaming machine 10, the gaming monitoring and control device 20 transmits the information of the execution result or the operating status to the external monitoring and control device that transmitted the command. It is transmitted to the monitoring control device 30.
For example, when the content of the command is reading and returning of the game program on the game control board 12, the game monitoring control device 20 reads the game program read without affecting the game by the gaming machine 10 to the external monitoring control device. Reply to 30. The external monitoring and control device 30 checks the returned game program against the checking program held by itself, and if there is an inconsistency, the game control board through the operation restriction unit 264 of the game monitoring and control device 20. Operation 12 is substantially stopped. Alternatively, the player turns off the operation handle of the gaming machine and stops the operation.
Based on the operation information transmitted from the game monitoring and control device 20, the presence / absence of an abnormality is determined in substantially the same procedure for the operation check result of the monitoring target component.
[0064]
Step S16
In step S11, based on the monitoring instruction information transmitted from the integrated monitoring and control apparatus 40, the external monitoring and control apparatus 30 transmits the information received from the game monitoring and control apparatus 20 or the independently collected monitoring information to the integrated monitoring and control apparatus 40. .
[0065]
In this manner, the integrated monitoring and control device 40 monitors and controls the operation status of the gaming machine 10 through the external monitoring and control device 30 and the external monitoring and control device 30 through the game monitoring and control device 20, respectively. The validity of the substrate 12 can be checked.
[0066]
As described above, using the game monitoring control device 20 has the following advantages.
(A) Since the validity of the game program recorded in the EEPROM 123 of the game control board 12 can be checked without affecting the game state, the fact that the game control board 12 is monitored by the agent can be checked. Goto never noticed. Therefore, even if the game control board 12 is illegally replaced, the fact can be reliably grasped in the game monitoring and control device 20.
(B) The validity of the operation can be confirmed by checking the game program and abnormal operation of the monitored component (analysis of game information, etc.), so that no matter what kind of goto action, You can grasp that fact.
(C) When it is confirmed that the game control board 12 and the like are not valid, by substantially stopping the operation, it is possible to prevent the damage on the game arcade side from spreading.
(D) Mutual authentication with not only the monitoring target components such as the game control board 12 but also the external monitoring and control device 30 is a condition for operation, so that the security of the game monitoring and control device 20 itself must be ensured. Can be.
[0067]
Further, by using the game monitoring control device 20 as an agent of the external monitoring control device 30 and using the external monitoring control device 30 as an agent of the integrated monitoring control device 40, the following advantages are obtained.
(E) The content of the monitoring instruction information can be arbitrarily determined ex post facto.
(F) Even when the game monitoring control device 20 or the external monitoring control device 30 is replaced illegally, the fact can be surely grasped by the integrated monitoring control device 40.
[0068]
(Second operation mode)
In the second operation mode, any one of the game control board 12, the game monitoring and control device 20, the external monitoring and control device 30, and the integrated monitoring and control device 40 is set as a device to be tested. In this mode, the validity is checked.
The content of the inspection is the same as that of the game monitoring control device 20 for the game control board 12 or the like, or the external monitoring control device 30 for the game monitoring control device 20.
[0069]
In the former case, the data management unit 552 records verification information indicating the validity of the operation of the game control board 12 or the like in the RAM 52, and the security authentication unit 551 checks the operation status of the game control board 12 or the like. The information to be represented is acquired through the communication mechanism, the consistency between the acquired information and the matching information in the RAM 52 is determined, and whether the operation of the game control board 12 or the like is valid is determined based on the determination result. If it is determined to be improper, alarm information is output or the operation of the game control board 12 or the like is substantially stopped.
[0070]
In the latter case, the data management unit 552 records the same collation information as the collation information possessed by each of the monitoring control devices 20 and 30 in the RAM 52. Then, the security authentication unit 551 acquires the collation information held by the monitoring control devices 20 and 30 from the respective monitoring control devices 20 and 30 through the communication mechanism, and determines the identity between the acquired collation information and the collation information in the RAM 52. Then, it is determined whether or not the operation of each of the monitoring control devices 20 and 30 is valid based on the determination result.
[0071]
With this inspection device 50, the validity of the game control can be quickly inspected by focusing on a specific device. Further, even if a failure occurs in each of the communication lines B11 and B12 and the first operation mode cannot be performed, the validity of the game control can be easily checked.
[0072]
<Modification>
(A) In each embodiment, the description has been made on the assumption that the recording medium of the program is an EEPROM, but an ordinary ROM or RAM may be used.
(B) In each embodiment, the game control board 12 has the memory such as the RAM 122 and the EEPROM 123 and the core processor 121, and the description has been given on the assumption that the core processor 121 executes the game program in the EEPROM 123. A mode in which the core processor 121 executes a game program recorded in the EEPROM 25 of the game monitoring and control device 20 is also possible. In this way, it is possible to detect whether or not a goto action added to the game program has occurred only in the game monitoring and control device 20.
(C) Unique identification information (ID) that can be read only by the external monitoring and control device 30 may be set in the game monitoring and control device 20. Alternatively, if unique identification information given by the manufacturer is set for each gaming machine, the identification information may be used. This makes it possible to monitor the distribution of used machines and to track at which stage the unauthorized remodeling has been performed, thereby preventing unauthorized remodeling.
(D) The game program and the validity determination information may be sent to the game monitoring and control apparatus 20 from the external monitoring and control apparatus 30 only once at the first time or each time the power of the gaming machine 10 is turned on.
(E) The monitoring information collected by the game monitoring control device 20 from the gaming machine 10 may include an abnormal alarm output due to a failure or the like of a component installation site of the gaming machine 10.
[0073]
In the above description, the case of a pachinko machine has been described as an example of a gaming machine, but the present invention is applicable to all gaming machines in which a goto action is expected.
[0074]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, for example, it is possible to provide an inspection device that easily detects at any time the validity of a device that monitors and controls the occurrence of a goto action and the operation of a gaming machine. Can be.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a game monitoring control system according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a general configuration diagram of a gaming machine.
FIG. 3 is a functional configuration diagram of a game control board mounted on the gaming machine.
FIG. 4 is a hardware configuration diagram of the game monitoring control device.
FIG. 5 is a functional configuration diagram of the game monitoring control device.
FIG. 6 is a hardware configuration diagram of the external monitoring and control device.
FIG. 7 is a functional configuration diagram of the external monitoring and control device.
FIG. 8 is a hardware configuration diagram of the integrated monitoring and control device.
FIG. 9 is a functional configuration diagram of the integrated monitoring and control device.
FIG. 10 is a hardware configuration diagram of the inspection apparatus.
FIG. 11 is a functional configuration diagram of the inspection device.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an operation mode of the game monitoring control system according to the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 gaming monitoring control system 10 gaming machine 11A gaming machine basic mechanism 11B power supply mechanism 11C rendering mechanism 12 gaming control board 121 core processor 122 RAM
123 EEPROM
124 input / output interface mechanism 20 game monitoring control device 21 bus controller 22 communication control unit 23 RAM of game monitoring control device
24 Buffer Memory of Game Monitoring and Control Device 25 EEPROM of Game Monitoring and Control Device
26 Control processor 261 of the game monitoring control device 261 Authentication unit of the game monitoring control device 262 Data management unit of the game monitoring control device 263 Operation monitoring unit of the game monitoring control device 264 Operation limiting unit 265 of the game monitoring control device Alarm of the game monitoring control device Information output unit 27 Random number generation circuit 28 Input / output interface unit 30 External monitoring and control unit 31 Communication unit of external monitoring and control unit 33 RAM of external monitoring and control unit
34 Buffer memory of external monitoring and control unit 35 EEPROM of external monitoring and control unit
36 control processor 361 of the external monitoring and control device 361 security authentication unit of the external monitoring and control device 362 data management unit of the external monitoring and control device 363 game information analysis unit of the external monitoring and control device 38 input / output interface mechanism 40 of the external monitoring and control device Integrated monitoring and control Device 41 Communication mechanism of integrated monitoring and control device 42 RAM of integrated monitoring and control device
43 Buffer memory of integrated monitoring and control device 44 EEPROM of integrated monitoring and control device
45 Control processor 451 of the integrated monitoring and control device Security authentication unit 452 of the integrated monitoring and control device Data management unit 453 of the integrated monitoring and control device Game information analyzing unit of the integrated monitoring and control device 46 Input / output interface mechanism 50 of the integrated monitoring and control device 50 Inspection device 51 Communication device 52 of inspection device RAM of inspection device
53 Inspection device buffer memory 54 Inspection device EEPROM
55 Inspection device control processor 56 Inspection device input / output interface 551 Inspection device security authentication unit 552 Inspection device data management unit B11, B12 Communication lines B13, B14, B15, B16, B17 Internal bus

Claims (5)

A device for inspecting the validity of the operation of a gaming machine equipped with a monitoring control device that performs operation monitoring control of a game control unit that performs a predetermined game control operation,
In a portable housing, a communication mechanism for performing two-way communication with the monitoring and control device, and a processing means including a memory and a processor is built-in,
The monitoring control device monitors the validity of the operation in the game control means by comparing verification information held by the device with monitoring information indicating an operation state of the game control means,
In the memory, the same collation information and the same inspection program as the collation information that the monitoring control device has are recorded,
The processing means acquires the collation information held by the processor from the monitoring control device through the communication mechanism by executing the inspection program recorded in the memory by the processor, and acquires the acquired collation information. And the consistency with the matching information recorded in the memory, and determining whether or not the operation of the game control means or the monitoring control device is valid based on the result of the determination. Features,
Inspection equipment. The processing means records information representing the contents of a legitimate control operation to be performed by the game control means in the memory as one of the check information, and indicates the contents of the actual control operation of the game control means. Information is obtained through the monitoring control device, and configured to determine consistency between the obtained information and information recorded in the memory,
The inspection device according to claim 1. An apparatus for checking the legitimacy of a gaming machine having a game control means for performing a predetermined game control operation,
In a portable case, a communication mechanism for performing two-way communication with the game control means, and a processing means including a memory and a processor is built-in,
In the memory, verification information indicating the validity of the operation in the game control means and an inspection program are recorded,
The processing means obtains information indicating the operation status from the game control means through the communication mechanism by the processor executing an inspection program recorded in the memory, and stores the obtained information and the memory in the memory. It is configured to determine the consistency with the recorded matching information, and to determine whether the operation of the game control means is valid based on the determination result,
Inspection equipment. The processing means is configured to substantially stop the operation of the game control means when the operation of the game control means is determined to be improper,
The inspection device according to claim 3. The communication mechanism has a non-contact communication unit that performs non-contact communication with the other party,
The inspection device according to claim 1.

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