JPH1119331A - Method for controlling business data information in desk-top coin game machine, portable computer for collecting and controlling business data, and many desk-top coin game machines - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a desk-top coin game machine to push ahead with business and maintain and control the system efficiently, and to realize the deterrent effect of dishonest behaviors. SOLUTION: A portable computer 200 collects money for each of a multiplicity of desk-top coin game machines 1. In controlling money, the game machines 1 and the computer 200 are connected with a communication cable. The ID numbers of persons in charge of collecting money and date and time data of money collection are sent from the computer 200 to the game machine 1 and these IDs and data for last prescribed times of collecting money are recorded in a data storage for money collection. At the same time, game history and money collection data are read from the game machine 1, and these data are recorded in a temporary data storage in the computer 200. Each of data is read from the computer 200 to inform the center computer of these data. The center computer processes the secondary data for pushing up with business and data for maintaining and controlling this system on the basis of each of data collected from the multiplicity of game machines.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin game machine placed on a desk, a portable computer used for collecting and managing business data stored in the coin game machine,
And an information management method for the sales data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a desk-top coin game machine in which a player can enjoy playing a game by inserting a 100 yen coin.
The coin game device is placed at a restaurant such as a coffee shop or a ramen shop by paying a predetermined installation commission, and is used by customers visiting the store. When collecting the 100 yen coins accumulated in the coin game device, the collection clerk goes to the site and opens the coin game device with the key brought and brings out the stored 100 yen coins. .

[0003]

Such a coin game machine basically has only a function of executing game play. That is, it does not have a security measure function or a function of recording data useful for sales strategy.

That is, regarding security measures, in a conventional coin game device, a duplicate key is illegally duplicated, and the coin game device is opened, and a 100-yen coin may be stolen. Thereafter, since the coin game machine was closed in its original state, it was not possible to obtain confirmation that the coin was stolen. Further, even if mischief is performed, such as inserting a wire or the like into a slot of a 100-yen coin of the coin game apparatus, as long as no trace remains inside, no information can be known later. Furthermore, since the history of the collection and operation of the coin game device is not recorded,
Even if something abnormal such as an operation error occurred, I couldn't confirm.

In addition, stealing the coin game device itself,
If you change the lock to take out the 100 yen coin, you can immediately start business somewhere, but there is no function to reliably prevent this.

[0006] In addition, such coin game machines do not provide history data on the operating status or the like indicating how the coin game machine is used in the installation shop. Further, there is no mechanism that can collect and grasp, in real time, sales data such as sales for each coin game device installed in a number of locations. It is desired that efficient operation such as rearrangement of coin game machines be performed by collecting such business data.

[0007] In view of such problems, the present invention has been made,
It is an object of the present invention to enable efficient sales promotion and maintenance management of a tabletop coin game machine, and also to obtain an effect of deterring fraud.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a table-top coin game machine according to the present invention, comprising: a coin storage section for storing coins inserted by a player; And a means for executing a predetermined game program related to input and output of the game panel in response to the insertion of the coin, and a game panel for displaying a game situation to the player. Means for storing history data of executed game play in a play data storage unit for a certain number of recent plays, a communication interface for performing data communication by connecting to an external information processing device, and a communication interface Receiving the collection clerk ID and collection date and time data input as access data from the information processing device; Means for accumulating and updating the person in charge ID and the collection date and time data as collection data for the latest fixed number of collections in the access data storage unit, and reading out the data in the access data storage unit and the play data storage unit and Means for transmitting the information to the information processing device through an interface.

Preferably, the game play counting means for counting the number of game plays, and a game play for prohibiting the execution of the game play when the number of plays counted by this means exceeds a predetermined play number limit value. An execution prohibition unit and a reset unit that initializes the number of plays counted by the collection-by-collection game play counting unit at the time of collection are provided.

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, a portable computer for collecting and managing business data according to the present invention comprises:
A communication interface for performing data communication by connecting to the table-top coin game machine; a means for setting and storing a collection clerk ID; a means for generating collection date and time data; the collection clerk ID and the collection date and time data Means for sending out as access data to the coin game device through the communication interface, and the game play data and the collection data acquired from the coin game device at the time of collection through the communication interface as primary data as business data. Means for organizing and storing the data in a storage unit, communication means for performing data communication by connecting to an external center computer, and reading the data from the primary data storage unit and reporting the data to the center computer through the communication means Means.

Preferably, there is provided means for receiving secondary data processed for business promotion and maintenance management based on the data from the center computer through the communication means and storing the secondary data in a secondary data storage unit.

In order to achieve the above object, a method for managing business data in a number of table-top coin game machines according to the present invention has the following requirements (1) to (5).

[0013] (1) The portable computer according to the third aspect collects money for many of the tabletop coin game devices according to the first or second aspect. Alternatively, the portable computer according to claim 4 collects money for many of the table-top coin game devices according to claim 1 or 2 individually.

(2) At the time of the collection, the communication interfaces of the game device and the portable computer are connected to each other with a predetermined communication cable. The portable computer sends a collection manager ID and collection date and time data as access data to the game device, and stores the ID and data of the latest fixed number of collections as collection data in the collection data storage unit of the game device. .

(3) At the time of the collection, the history data of the game play executed by the game device and the collection data are read from the play data storage unit and the collection data storage unit, respectively, and are taken into the portable computer. The data is organized and stored in the primary data storage unit.

(4) The communication means of the portable computer and the center computer are connected via a predetermined communication path. The play data and the collection data are read from the primary data storage unit of the portable computer and reported to the center computer.

(5) Secondary data for business promotion and maintenance management is processed based on the play data and the collection data collected by the center computer for many game devices.

Preferably, the secondary data provided by the center computer is received by the portable computer and stored in the secondary data storage unit.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

=== Desktop Coin Game Apparatus === <Hardware> The coin game apparatus of the present invention has a small portable case as shown in the plan view and the front view of FIGS. It is a form of. The game can be enjoyed by placing it on a table and inserting a 100 yen coin. The inserted coins are accumulated inside the case. Explaining the appearance in detail, a coin insertion slot 20 is provided on the upper surface of the case. Below the coin slot 20, an operation display panel 30 that is inclined downward and forward is provided. The three-color lamp group 10 is mounted on the operation display panel 30 in a matrix. Each of the three-color lamps 10 is incorporated in a translucent rubber switch, and is an illuminated push button switch. The player plays the game by pressing these lamps in accordance with the lighting display of these three-color lamps.

The contents of the game play and the configuration of the operation display panel adopted here are only examples.

Inside the case is mounted a control section centered on a one-chip microcomputer. FIG. 2 shows a basic block diagram of this control unit. As shown in FIG.
10, display driver 120, audio amplifier 130, tilt sensor 140, coin selector 15
0 and the EEPROM 160 are connected. Also R
An input / output terminal for data communication of the S-232C standard is also connected to the microcomputer 100. A security alarm unit 170 can also be connected as appropriate. As a battery 180 for supplying a drive voltage to each section, a commercially available dry battery is used. Also accepts DC input from AC adapter.

The ROM of the microcomputer 100 stores a predetermined game program. Display driver 1
20 is connected to a three-color lamp group 10, a remaining frequency display unit 40, a level display unit 50, three lamps 60 for specifying a question color, and a score display unit 70. The three-color lamp group 10 is connected to the operation switch interface 110.

When each of the three-color lamps 10 receives a player's operation input as an operation switch, the microcomputer 100 receives the input signal via the operation switch interface 110. In addition, the display driver 120 instructs the three-color lamp group 10, the question color specifying lamp 60, and each L of each of the display units 40, 50, and 70 by a command from the microcomputer 100.
The ED is driven for lighting. Coin selector 150 is 10
Only regular coins such as 0 yen coins are sorted out. If the inserted coin is not a regular coin, the microcomputer 100 does not start the game play.

<Recording of History Data such as Game Execution Operation and Collection> The operation and operation status of the coin game apparatus 1 such as the number of game plays and the collection date and time are recorded as history data in the EEPROM 160. This historical data,
It is recorded for a certain number of recent cases. Specifically, the history data is sequentially recorded in a memory area having a predetermined capacity. When this area is completely written, the oldest history data area is overwritten.

The function for deleting the history data is not provided in the coin game device 1. In addition, the data cannot be erased even by using an external collection management portable computer described later.

As shown in FIG. 3, the recorded history data is roughly classified into play data, money collection data and a report. In the play data, the player is 100
Each content is recorded for the latest 500 times (items) of each game play executed each time a coin is inserted. The contents include a collection number, which will be described later, an elapsed time from the previous collection, a score and an attainment level of each play, and a play time.

In the collection data, the contents of each of the last ten collections performed by the collection manager are recorded. The contents include a collection number, a collection date and time, a collection person ID, and a game count (total play count). The collection date and time and collection person ID are data sent from the portable computer 200 at the time of collection described later. The total play count is the total number of plays incremented each time a game play is executed after the coin game apparatus 1 is manufactured. Based on the total play count, the number of 100-yen coins that should be stored in the coin game device 1 can be determined.

In the report, every time there is any abnormality or access by the portable computer 200, events for the latest 60 events are recorded. The contents include a collection number, an event code, and an elapsed time from the previous collection. Specific examples of this event include inserting a foreign object into a coin slot, excessively inserting a 100-yen coin, time-out due to no operation input during game play, a communication error when collecting money, and an access history by the portable computer 200. It is.

=== Retrieval of History Data by Portable Computer at Collection Time === When a 100-yen coin stored in the coin game apparatus 1 is removed and collected, as shown in FIG. The collected collection portable computer 200 is connected to the coin game device 1 to collect all the history data described above.

As the portable computer 200,
A general-purpose mobile computer is used. Here, a collection management program is stored and executed. Coin game machine 1 and portable computer 2
00, a modular jack provided in the coin game device 1 and the portable computer 200
And a parallel cable with a dedicated cable. This modular jack is connected to the data input / output terminal of the microcomputer. Data communication between the two is performed in accordance with the RS-232C standard.

As a specific operation of collecting the history data, as shown in a flowchart of FIG. 5 showing the operation of the coin game apparatus 1, when the data communication is started, the collection computer ID and the collection date and time are transmitted from the portable computer 200. Data and mode designation code are sent (S10 • YE
S). The collection manager ID is set and registered in advance in the collection management program. The collection date and time data is generated by the clock function of the portable computer 200.

There are a plurality of types of the mode designation codes. The contents of these modes include the coin game device 1
There are various modes, such as a reference mode for confirming various setting contents of the operation, a configuration mode for changing the setting contents, and a collection mode for taking in history data at the time of collection. If the transmitted mode designation code is other than the money collection mode, the coin game device 1 proceeds to the execution process of each mode (S20 / NO → S3).
0).

The setting contents of the coin game apparatus 1 can be changed only in the configuration mode by operating the portable computer 200. This setting cannot be changed by the coin game device 1 alone. As a result, it is possible to prevent the settings from being changed without permission and used illegally even in the case of theft.

In the case of the collecting mode, the coin game apparatus 1 transmits the apparatus ID of the coin game apparatus 1 and the latest total play count to the portable computer 200 in addition to the play data, the collection data and the report described above (S20). YES → S40).

This device ID is written in the EEPROM 160 when the coin game device 1 is manufactured.
The settings cannot be changed using the portable computer 200. This setting change cannot be performed even with the coin game device 1 alone.

The portable computer 200 records each data sent, and sends an end code to the coin game device 1 when terminating the communication. Upon receiving the end code, the coin game device 1 ends the communication, and executes a predetermined process after the end of the communication (S50 / YES → S
60).

The processing includes the portable computer 2
The collection date and time data and the collection clerk ID sent from 00 are additionally recorded as collection data, and the collection number is incremented. In addition, the elapsed time from the previous collection time and the game counter for each collection are reset.
The collection number is incremented by one every time the collection is performed from zero to a predetermined maximum value. When the maximum value is exceeded, the collection number returns to zero and is incremented.

The per-collection game counter counts the number of game plays performed during the period from the previous collection to the next collection. When the value of the counter exceeds a predetermined play count limit value (for example, 500), execution of game play is prohibited. As a result, even if someone steals the coin game apparatus 1, the game play cannot be performed more than the limited number of times. Therefore, it is impossible to use the coin game machine 1 for business use.

The play count limit value is set to be equal to or less than the predetermined number of recorded play data (500). As a result, the first part of the history of the game play executed after the previous collection of money is reliably recorded without being overwritten and erased. Further, this limit value is set to the allowable amount of coin game device 1 that can store 100 yen coins. Thus, the player does not have to worry about inserting a 100 yen coin exceeding the allowable amount.

The person in charge of collection connects the portable printer to the portable computer 200 on the spot after the communication ends,
A balance slip or the like can be issued based on the collection data taken in from the coin game device 1. This payment slip is issued to the store where the coin game device 1 is installed. In this slip, an installation commission to be paid to the store, sales of collected 100 yen coins, and the like are described.

When the portable computer 200 acquires the history data from the coin game apparatus 1, the latest history data can be compared with the history data acquired at the time of the previous collection. As a result of this collation, if there is no consistency, some abnormality or the like has occurred. For example, there are cases where the number of 100-yen coins actually collected does not match the number of game plays that can be grasped, or when a foreign object is put into the coin slot. At this time,
A collection manager ID and collection date and time data are recorded in the coin game apparatus 1 as collection data together with a collection number for each collection. Further, each play data and report are recorded with a collection number incremented at the latest collection.

Therefore, it is easy to find out the cause by using the collection number, collection person ID, and collection date and time data as clues. In addition, by adopting such a structure, an effect of suppressing a fraudulent act by a player or a related person can be obtained.

When the portable computer 200 accesses the coin game apparatus 1, the portable computer 200 may perform communication without sending access data such as a collection person ID and collection date / time data to the coin game apparatus 1. . In this case, as described above, the event is recorded on the coin game device 1 side.

As described above, depending on each access, there are a case where no access data is sent and a case where the above-mentioned access data is sent. Such an embodiment is of course included in the technical scope of the present invention.

=== Receiving Data Report and Processed Data to Center Computer === One portable computer 200 collects history data as described above for many coin game machines 1. The collection person takes this portable computer 200 back to the company and uploads the collected history data to the center computer 300 as a host. The center computer 300 and the portable computer 200 are connected via a LAN as shown in FIG.
Performs data communication according to the standard. Alternatively, data communication with the center computer 300 may be performed from a collection site or the like by PHS or the like.

In addition, the person in charge of collecting prepares various documents such as a collection slip, a business daily report, and an installation report on the collected coin game machine 1 on the portable computer 200. Application software for creating these documents is provided in the portable computer 200.

The center computer 300 receives the coin game device 1 from many portable computers 200 in charge.
Is aggregated. In the center computer 300, information for business promotion and maintenance management is processed as shown in FIG. 6 based on a large number of history data and data of the documents. For example, for each store where the coin game device 1 is installed, the location of the store and the coin game device 1
2 is a chart showing the installation status and sales. Based on this information, sales policies and strategies are drafted for each store. The planned business policies and strategies and the processed information are fed back to the portable computer 200 and related sales departments. Thus, the efficiency of business promotion and maintenance management of the coin game device 1 is improved.

The network between the large number of portable computers 200 and the center computer 300 is defined as one network unit. As shown in FIG. 7, this unit can be arranged for each region (branch) nationwide, and a network unit group can be set up nationwide. An upper-level center computer 300a is provided at the head office of a company that manages and operates such a network unit group, and controls the center computers 300b in each region. The upper center computer 300a also directly communicates data with the portable computer 200 in the jurisdiction. By this network system, for example, sales information of the whole country is fed back to each center computer 300b and each portable computer 200 together with the analysis result.

As described above, a large number of portable computers 200 and a plurality of center computers 300
a, 300b can be used to construct a nationwide strategic information system (SIS). With this system, the above-described series of data downloading, information processing, and feedback can be processed quickly and in real time.

[0050]

As described above, the desktop coin game machine stores history data for a certain number of recent games played or collected. Each time a collection is made, the collection management portable computer accesses the table-top coin game machine and captures and stores this history data. For this reason, when collecting money again, the portable computer captures the latest history data from the coin game device, so that the previously stored history data up to the previous collection can be compared with the latest history data. .

As a result of this collation, if there is no consistency between the history data between the coin game device and the portable computer, occurrence of any abnormal operation in the coin game device or an unauthorized act will be prevented. You can know what was done to.

In particular, every time a money is collected, the ID of the person in charge and the date and time of the money collection are stored as history data in the coin game machine. For this reason, when the history data of each other is inconsistent as a result of the above-mentioned collation, or when there is any doubt that some
Since the person in charge of collection can be identified from the ID of the person in charge, it is easy to clarify the truth of the situation.

In addition, if the collection procedure is configured as described above, an effect of suppressing improper activities by a player or a related person can be obtained.

Therefore, the security function of the coin game device could be enhanced.

When the number of plays counted by the game play counting means initialized for each collection exceeds a predetermined play number limit value, execution of game play is prohibited. As a result, even if someone steals the coin game device, the game play cannot be performed more than the limited number of times. In addition, it becomes impossible to use this coin game machine for business use. In addition, the play count limit value is set to be equal to or less than a certain number of records of the play data. As a result, the first part of the history of the game play from the previous collection is reliably recorded without being overwritten and disappearing. Furthermore, if the limit value is set to the allowable amount of coins of the coin game device, the player does not have to worry about inserting coins exceeding the allowable amount for playing the game.

Further, history data of many coin game machines are collected in the center computer through the portable computer. The center computer processes secondary data for sales promotion and maintenance management based on the history data. Therefore, sales and maintenance management can be efficiently promoted based on the secondary data.

If the secondary data is fed back to the portable computer, efficient sales and maintenance management supported by the secondary data can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a coin game device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a plan view and (b) is a front view.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control unit of the coin game device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents of history data recorded in the coin game device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing how the portable computer according to the embodiment of the present invention takes in history data from the coin game device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the coin game device when collecting money.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which data is uploaded from the portable computer to the center computer, and a state in which information is processed in the center computer.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state where a network group including the portable computer and the center computer is arranged nationwide.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tabletop coin game machine 10 Three-color lamp 20 Coin slot 30 Operation display panel 40 Remaining number display part 50 Level display part 60 Lamp for specifying the color of the question 70 Score display part 100 Microcomputer 110 Operation switch interface 120 Display driver 130 Audio amplifier 140 Tilt sensor 150 Coin selector 160 EEPROM 170 Security alarm unit 180 Battery 190 Speaker 200 Portable computer 250 Portable printer 300 Center computer 300a Upper center computer 300b Center computer in each region

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A coin storage unit for storing coins inserted by a player, a game panel unit for giving a game input by operating the player and displaying a game situation to the player, and inserting the coins. Means for executing a predetermined game program related to input / output of the game panel unit in response to the above, and storing history data of the game play executed by this means in the play data storage unit for a predetermined number of recent plays. A communication interface for performing data communication by connecting to an external information processing device;
Means for receiving access data input from the information processing device through the communication interface, and accumulating the received access data while updating a predetermined number of recent access times as access history data in the access data storage unit; Means for reading out the data in the data storage section and the data in the play data storage section as business data, and transmitting the business data to the information processing device through the interface. 2. A game play counting means for counting the number of times of said game play executed during a period from the previous transmission of said business data to the next transmission of said business data, and said game play counting means. A game play execution prohibiting unit for prohibiting execution of the game play when the number of plays exceeds a predetermined play number limit value, and the number of plays counted by the game play counting unit is initialized after the next sales data is transmitted. 2. The tabletop coin game device according to claim 1, further comprising: resetting means. 3. A communication interface for performing data communication by connecting to the table-top coin game device according to claim 1, a means for setting and storing access data, and transferring the access data to the coin. Means for transmitting to the game device through the communication interface, means for organizing and storing the business data transmitted from the tabletop coin game device through the communication interface in a primary data storage unit, and an external center computer. Communication means for connecting and performing data communication; and means for reading the data from the primary data storage unit and reporting the data to the center computer through the communication means. For portable computer. 4. A means for receiving secondary data processed for sales promotion and maintenance management based on said data from said center computer through said communication means and storing it in a secondary data storage unit. The portable computer for sales data collection and management according to claim 3. 5. An information management method for business data in a number of table-top coin game machines, which has the following requirements (1) to (5). (1) The portable computer according to claim 3 collects business data individually for many of the table-top coin game devices according to claim 1 or 2. Alternatively, business data is individually collected for a large number of the tabletop coin game machines according to the first or second aspect by using the portable computer according to the fourth aspect. (2) At the time of collecting the business data, the communication interfaces of the game device and the portable computer are connected to each other with a predetermined communication cable. The access data is sent from the portable computer to the game device, and a certain number of recent access times of the access data is stored as access history data in the access data storage unit of the game device. (3) The history data of the game play executed by the game device at the time of the access and the access history data are read out from the play data storage unit and the access data storage unit, respectively, and taken into the portable computer as business data, and the primary data is read out. The data is stored in the data storage unit. (4) The communication means of the portable computer and the communication means of the center computer are connected via a predetermined communication path. The sales data is read from the primary data storage unit of the portable computer and reported to the center computer. (5) Secondary data for sales promotion and maintenance management is processed based on the sales data collected by the center computer for many game devices. 6. The business data information management method according to claim 5, wherein the secondary data provided from the center computer is received by the portable computer and stored in the secondary data storage unit.