JP3693185B2 - Amusement hall monitoring device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a monitoring device installed in a game hall such as a pachinko hall, in particular, a record that records the number of game media input by a player and at least the number of game media data indicating the counting result and a unique identification code. The present invention relates to a monitoring device for a game hall comprising a counting device for issuing a carrier, and a prize settlement device for paying out a prize of a value corresponding to the data on the number of game media recorded on the record carrier as described above.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent pachinko halls, by installing a counting device for counting pachinko balls acquired by players at multiple locations in the pachinko hall, such as the so-called island edges, the distance of pachinko balls to be carried during prize exchange can be reduced. It has become common to construct a prize payout system that realizes shortening and the like, thereby improving the convenience of the player. Specifically, the counting device counts the inserted pachinko balls and prints out a gift voucher formed by recording premium ball number data indicating the counting result with a numeric string and a barcode. In this gift voucher, a serial number which is a unique identification code, an ID code unique to a pachinko hall, and the like are recorded using a barcode. The prize exchange counter in the pachinko hall is provided with a prize settlement apparatus equipped with a barcode reader for reading the prize ball data and ID code recorded on the prize exchange ticket by barcode. This prize settlement device has a function of determining the authenticity of a gift voucher using the ID code and the like, and displaying a prize ball data read from the gift voucher on a display device. The premium is paid out based on the contents.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the counting devices as described above are arranged in a distributed state in a plurality of places in the pachinko hall, and therefore, there is a situation in which the eyes of the pachinko hall employees are inadequate. For this reason, some of the players, when counting pachinko balls by the counting device, steal the eyes on the pachinko hall side, and give a value larger than the number of pachinko balls actually introduced from the counting device. There are many people who issue a gift voucher in which the number of prize balls is recorded and receive an illegal payout of the gift using the gift voucher. In particular, in recent years, there has been a tendency for the above-mentioned fraudulent acts to be performed systematically, and in some cases, there is a risk that damage on the pachinko hall side will increase significantly.
[0004]
Therefore, conventionally, in order to deal with the illegal acts as described above, a counting camera and a television camera for photographing the periphery thereof are arranged, and an image taken by the television camera is displayed in a monitoring room provided at an appropriate place. It is considered to install a monitor device that reproduces in real time, and to monitor the presence or absence of the aforementioned fraudulent acts on the counting device based on the reproduced image.
However, in this case, since it is necessary to monitor the monitor device in real time at all times, in order to ensure monitoring through the monitor device in actual operation, a full-time monitor (pachinko hall employee) In addition, during operation, a configuration in which a number of monitoring devices corresponding to a plurality of counting devices installed at a plurality of locations are installed and monitored, or a plurality of counting devices and their surroundings are provided by a plurality of television cameras. Since a configuration in which captured images are monitored while being sequentially switched on the monitor device side is employed, there is a situation in which the burden for monitoring is further increased, which is difficult to implement in practice.
[0005]
In addition, it may be possible to provide the counting device with a function capable of actively dealing with the fraud without relying on the negative function of monitoring the fraud as described above. The anti-fraud device is almost impossible to realize. For this reason, there has been a demand for the appearance of a monitoring device that can easily and efficiently monitor fraud on a counting device.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to count game media input by a player and to issue a record carrier that records game media number data indicating the count result. It is an object of the present invention to provide a monitoring device for a game hall that can monitor fraudulent acts on the device simply and efficiently without increasing the burden on the observer.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention counts game media inserted by a player and issues a record carrier that records at least game media number data indicating a count result and a unique identification code; and A game hall provided with a prize settlement device for paying out a prize corresponding to the number of game media data recorded on the record carrier, or counting the game media thrown by the player and at least a unique identification code A recording device that issues a record carrier on which the recording medium is recorded, storage means for storing game medium number data indicating the counting results of each time by the counting device in association with the identification code, and recorded from the storage means to the record carrier. The game payout for reading out the game medium number data corresponding to the identification code and paying out the prize corresponding to the game medium number data In the monitoring device installed in the game hall equipped with a device, a signal generating means provided in the counting device and outputting an operation signal at a predetermined timing at least during a counting operation period of the counting device, the counting device, and its By capturing image data from the imaging device at a timing based on an imaging device that is capable of photographing the periphery and an operation signal output from the counting device, the counting device and its surrounding time-lapse image data are obtained. Attached to the imaging control means, the image data storage means for sequentially storing the time-lapse image data in a state associated with the identification code recorded on the record carrier issued at the time of image capture, and the premium settlement apparatus Provided in the monitor device capable of reproducing the time-lapse image data, and in the prize settlement device, the prize payment by the record carrier At this time, the apparatus includes a reproduction control unit that reads out the time-lapse image data corresponding to the identification code recorded on the record carrier from the image data storage unit and reproduces it by the monitor device. Item 1).
[0008]
In this case, the counting device is provided with auxiliary signal generating means for outputting the management data including the game medium number data and the identification code recorded on the issuance record carrier from the counting device, and is output from the data generating means. Management data storage means for sequentially storing the management data to be recorded, and the reproduction control means is adapted to cause the monitor to capture time-lapse image data corresponding to the identification code recorded on the record carrier when the prize is paid out by the record carrier. When reproducing by the device, the management data corresponding to the identification code may be read from the management data storage means and displayed in the reproduced image by the monitor device (claim 2).
[0009]
The signal generating means is configured to generate a count start signal and a count end signal as the operation signals at the count operation start timing and the count operation end timing of the counting device, and the imaging control means The time-lapse image data is obtained at the time of output, and the operation for obtaining the time-lapse image data is repeated every time a preset time elapses thereafter. An operation for obtaining photographed image data can also be executed (claim 3).
[0010]
[Operation and effect of the invention]
(Claim 1) When a game medium acquired by a game is exchanged for a prize, the game medium is inserted into a counting device to perform a counting operation. Then, a record carrier on which at least the game medium number data indicating the counting result and a unique identification code are recorded is issued from the counting device, or a record carrier on which at least the unique identification code is recorded from the counting device Is issued, and the game medium number data indicating the counting result as described above is stored in a state associated with the identification code recorded on the record carrier. The prize of the value corresponding to the game medium number data recorded on the record carrier or the game medium number data stored in the storage means may be paid out. In this case, when the counting operation is performed in the counting device, the signal generating means provided in the counting device outputs an operation signal at a predetermined timing at least during the counting operation period as described above.
[0011]
When the operation signal is output in this way, the imaging control unit captures image data from the imaging device at a timing based on the operation signal, thereby obtaining the counting device and its surrounding time-lapse image data. . The time-lapse image data obtained in this way is sequentially stored in the image data storage means in association with the identification code recorded on the record carrier issued at the time of image capture.
[0012]
In the premium settlement apparatus, when the premium is paid out by the record carrier, the reproduction control means provided in the premium settlement apparatus corresponds to the identification code recorded on the record carrier from the image data storage means. The time-lapse image data thus read out is read out, and the image data is reproduced by a monitor device attached to the premium settlement apparatus.
[0013]
As a result, when the payout of the prize using the record carrier is performed through the prize settlement device, the counter showing the pattern of performing the counting operation for the issue of the record carrier in the counting device that has issued the record carrier. Since the captured image is reproduced by the monitor device, it is possible to confirm the approximate number of game media input to the counting device by the reproduced image. Therefore, if the number of game media input to the counting device that can be confirmed through the image is greatly different from the number of game media data recorded on the record carrier provided for the prize payout, it is determined that there is some abnormality. As a result, it becomes possible to reliably deal with fraudulent acts on the counting device based on the determination result. In this case, the monitor device automatically reproduces the monitoring image when the prize is paid out using the record carrier. Therefore, it is necessary to constantly monitor the reproduced image by the monitor device as in the prior art. As a result, it becomes possible to monitor fraudulent acts on the counting device simply and efficiently without increasing the burden on the observer.
[0014]
In the device according to claim 2, when the record carrier is issued from the counting device, that is, when the counting operation is finished in the counting device, the auxiliary signal generating means includes the game medium number data recorded on the issuing record carrier and The management data including the identification code is output, and the management data output in this way is sequentially stored in the management data storage means.
[0015]
In the prize settlement apparatus, when the prize payout is performed by the record carrier, the reproduction control means, as described above, the time-lapse image data corresponding to the identification code recorded on the record carrier as the monitor apparatus. However, at the time of reproduction, management data corresponding to the identification code (including game medium number data and identification code recorded on the issued record carrier) is read from the management data storage means. It is read out and displayed in the reproduced image by the monitor device.
[0016]
As a result, when the payout of the prize using the record carrier is performed through the prize settlement device, the counter showing the pattern of performing the counting operation for the issue of the record carrier in the counting device that has issued the record carrier. When the captured image is reproduced by the monitor device, the game medium number data and the identification code recorded on the record carrier are displayed in the reproduced image by the monitor device, so that the counting device can be confirmed through the image It is now possible to quickly and easily determine the difference between the number of game media input to the game media and the number of game media data recorded on the record carrier provided for prize payout, and to cope with fraudulent acts on the counting device. Furthermore, it can be performed reliably.
[0017]
According to another aspect of the present invention, when a counting operation is performed in the counting device, the signal generating means provided in the counting device counts the start signal at the counting operation start timing and the counting operation end timing of the counting device. And a count end signal is generated. In this case, the imaging control means obtains the time-lapse image at the time when the counting start signal is output, and thereafter obtains the time-lapse image data every time a preset time elapses. The operation is repeated, and further, the operation for obtaining the time-lapse image data is executed when the counting end signal is output.
[0018]
As a result, during the period when the counting operation of the game medium is performed in the counting device, the first and last time-lapse images of the period can be obtained, and the time-lapse image in the middle of the period can also be obtained. For this reason, it is possible to reliably confirm the illegal act through the reproduced image by the monitor device.
[0019]
【Example】
Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a pachinko hall monitoring apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1, the electrical configuration of the entire monitoring apparatus is shown by a combination of functional blocks. In FIG. 1, a large number of counting units 1 (corresponding to the counting device in the present invention) are installed at a plurality of locations in a pachinko hall (for example, each location located at the edge of an island). The specific configuration will be described later. A plurality of CCD cameras 2 (corresponding to image pickup means in the present invention) are arranged so as to be able to take pictures of the counting unit 1 and its periphery. The CCD camera 2 is configured such that its operation control is performed through a switch unit 4 by a recording control device 3 (corresponding to an imaging control means in the present invention) described later, and an image signal corresponding to a photographing operation is switched. It is configured to be given to the recording control device 3 through the unit 4. The recording control device 3 is supplied with an output signal from the counting unit 1 via an input circuit 5.
[0020]
The image memory 6 corresponds to the image data storage means referred to in the present invention, and is provided for sequentially storing time-lapse image data as described later by the CCD camera 2 through the recording control device 3. The data memory 7 corresponds to management data storage means in the present invention, and is provided for sequentially storing management data ΔD output from the counting unit 1 as described later.
[0021]
A plurality of POS terminals 8 (corresponding to the prize settlement device in the present invention) are installed in a prize exchange counter in the pachinko hall. The specific configuration thereof will be described later, but is output from the counting unit 1. When the management data ΔD is received through the repeater 9, the data ΔD is sequentially stored in an internal memory (not shown), and a data signal is exchanged with the image output control device 10 described later through the input / output circuit 11. It has a configuration. The image output control device 10 can access the image memory 6 and the data memory 7, and can read the stored data of the memories 6 and 7 in response to the access.
[0022]
The counting unit 1 is configured as described below.
That is, in FIG. 9 showing the electrical configuration of the counting unit 1 by a combination of functional blocks, the counting unit 12 counts the inserted pachinko balls, and includes a numerical signal corresponding to the counted value including a microcomputer. It is provided in real time to the configured control section 1a (corresponding to the signal generating means and auxiliary signal generating means referred to in the present invention).
[0023]
The control unit 1a performs display control through the display unit 14 and sheet through the printing unit 15 based on a numerical signal input from the counting unit 12, a signal indicating the operation state of the ticketing button 13, and a control program stored in advance. Control for issuing management data ΔD through the transmitting unit 16 and the issuing control of the management data ΔD through the transmitting unit 16 are performed. The contents of the control will be described below with reference to FIG.
[0024]
In FIG. 10, the control unit 1a holds a standby state until the counting operation by the counting unit 12 is started, that is, until a numerical signal is input from the counting unit 12 (step D1). When the counting operation by the counting unit 12 is started, a counting start signal Sa as an operation signal is transmitted to the recording control device 3 through the transmitting unit 16 (step D2).
[0025]
In this case, as in the format example shown in FIG. 12, the count start signal Sa is a type code indicating the count start signal Sa, a device number that is a serial number unique to the count unit 1, and the count unit 1 To a ticket issuing number which is a serial number of a gift voucher KT issued in connection with the counting operation currently in progress. In this embodiment, “χ” in FIG. 12 means that an arbitrary decimal number or hexadecimal number is entered, and “χ” appearing in the following description also has the same meaning.
[0026]
Referring to FIG. 10, after executing step D2 for outputting the counting start signal Sa, a counting / display processing routine D3 based on the numerical signal from the counting unit 12 is executed. In this routine D3, the count value indicated by the numerical signal input one after another from the counting unit 12 is divided by the preset exchange price of the specific prize, and the above-mentioned count value (injected) is input to the display unit 14. And the quotient (the number of prizes when the input pachinko balls are exchanged for specific prizes) and the remainder (the number of extra pachinko balls when the input pachinko balls are exchanged for specific prizes) Is repeatedly performed until the counting operation of the inserted pachinko balls is completed in the counting unit 12.
[0027]
After the counting / display processing routine D3 is completed, the process waits until the ticketing button 13 is operated (step D4). When the ticketing button 13 is operated, the ticketing processing routine D5 is executed. In this routine D5, a gift voucher KT based on the processing result in the counting / display processing routine D3 is issued through the printing unit 15.
[0028]
Here, the premium voucher KT has a format as shown in FIG. That is, in FIG. 11, the gift voucher KT includes a name a1 of the “voucher voucher”, date / time data a2 including the date and time of issue, and a ticket issue number a3 corresponding to the identification code in the present invention (this includes This includes the device number of the counting unit 1 that issued the ticket), the award number of prizes a4 (the quotient obtained in the counting / display processing routine D3, that is, the number of prizes when the inserted pachinko balls are exchanged for a specified prize. Multiply the gift exchange unit price), the number of pachinko balls a5, the pachinko hall name a6, and the barcode a7 for reading data are printed. The bar code a7 includes an ID code unique to the pachinko hall, the ticket issuing number (and the device number), the number of pachinko balls, the number of extra pachinko balls, and the like.
[0029]
After completion of the ticket issuing routine D5 as described above, a count end signal Sb as an operation signal is transmitted to the recording control device 3 through the transmission unit 16 in step D6, and the management data ΔD is transmitted to the recording control device 3. And after executing step D7 for transmitting to the POS terminal 8 through the repeater 9, return to the determination step D1.
[0030]
The count end signal Sb has the same format as the count start signal Sa described above as shown in FIG. 13, and includes a type code indicating that the count end signal Sb is present, a device number, a ticketing number, It is the composition which combined. Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the management data ΔD includes a type code indicating that it is management data ΔD, the device number and the ticket issuing number, the number of prize balls a4 printed on the prize voucher KT, and It is the structure which combined the ball number data and the remainder data which respectively show the surplus pachinko ball number a5.
[0031]
In short, when the pachinko ball is inserted, the counting unit 1 counts the pachinko ball and displays the count value and the number of specific prizes that can be exchanged for the inserted pachinko ball on the display unit 14. The counting start signal Sa and the counting end signal Sb are transmitted to the recording control device 3 at the start and end of the pachinko ball counting operation. Further, when the ticket issuing switch 13 is operated after the pachinko ball counting operation is completed, the counting unit 1 issues a premium voucher KT as shown in FIG. 11 through the printing unit 15 and records it on the premium voucher KT. The management data ΔD including the recorded data is transmitted to the recording control device 3 and the POS terminal 8.
[0032]
On the other hand, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show the contents of control by the recording control device 3, which will be described below.
In other words, the recording control device 3 executes the input / output process shown in FIG. 2 and the image storage process shown in FIG. 3 by parallel processing. Specifically, in the input / output processing shown in FIG. 2, the presence / absence of input of the count start signal Sa and the count end signal Sb from the counting unit 1 is determined (steps A1 and A2). When Sa is input, that is, when the pachinko ball counting operation in the counting unit 1 is started, the imaging control processing routine A3 is executed.
[0033]
In the imaging control processing routine A3, the CCD camera 2 corresponding to the counting unit 1 specified by the device number included in the input counting start signal Sa among the plurality of CCD cameras 2 is operated through the switch unit 4. Thus, the counting unit 1 and its periphery are photographed. In the recording control device 3, a camera number table as shown in FIG. 5 is set in an internal memory (not shown), and the CCD camera 2 to be operated as described above is specified using this table. It has become.
[0034]
After execution of the imaging control routine A3, input of image data from the CCD camera 2 operated as described above is started through the switch unit 4 (step A4), and then the process returns to step A1.
[0035]
When the counting end signal Sb is input (“YES” in step A2), that is, when the counting operation of the pachinko ball in the counting unit 1 is completed, the voucher is exchanged from the counting unit 1 in the management data input processing routine A5. The management data ΔD transmitted in conjunction with the issuance of KT is input and stored in the data memory 7. Specifically, for the data memory 7, as shown in FIG. 6 showing the format, the ticket issue number, the device number, the number of balls data and the remainder data in the management data ΔD are the date of issue of the exchange ticket KT. It is stored together with date / time data indicating the date and date / time.
[0036]
After execution of the management data input processing routine A5, the operation of the CCD camera 2 is stopped through the switch unit 4 to stop the input of image data (step A6), and then the process returns to step A1.
[0037]
The image storage process shown in FIG. 3 is started when the counting start signal Sa is input. First, the timer operation of the internal timer is started (step B1). This internal timer is configured as a repetitive timer that outputs a trigger signal every time a predetermined time T elapses during the timer operation period. After starting the timer operation of such an internal timer, the image data storage routine B2 captures the image data input through the switch unit 4, thereby allowing the frame of the counting unit 1 and its surroundings, for example, one frame. The captured image data is obtained and the time-lapse image data is stored in the image memory 6. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7 showing the format of the image memory, in the image memory 6, the time-lapse image data is obtained by issuing a ticket issue number (corresponding to an identification code) recorded in a gift voucher KT issued at the time of image capture. ) Is stored in the memory area.
It should be noted that the time-lapse image data may be obtained for a plurality of discontinuous frames.
[0038]
After execution of the image data storage routine B2, a loop is formed to wait until the count end signal Sb is input or until the trigger signal is output from the internal timer (steps B3 and B4). When a trigger signal is output from the internal timer, that is, when a time that is an integral multiple of the time T has elapsed after the count start signal Sa is input, the image data storage routine B2 is re-executed, and then the standby loop (Step B3, B4) is formed.
[0039]
When the count end signal Sb is input in such a standby loop formation state ("YES" in step B3), after executing the image data storage routine B5 having the same control content as the routine B2, the internal data Stop the timer operation of the timer and return to the initial state.
[0040]
In short, the recording control apparatus 3 performs the following operations.
When a counting start signal Sa is output from the counting unit 1 in response to the start of the counting operation in the counting unit 1, the counting that is the generation source of the counting start signal Sa among the plurality of CCD cameras 2 is performed. By operating the unit corresponding to the unit 1, the image data of the counting unit 1 and its surroundings are output from the CCD camera 2.
[0041]
Then, the image data is captured at the timings t1, t2,..., T (n-1), tn shown in the timing chart of FIG. The captured image data is obtained, and the time-lapse image data is stored in the image memory 6 together with the ticket issue number recorded in the gift voucher KT issued in the counting unit 1 at the time of image capture. In FIG. 4, t1 is the timing at which the counting start signal Sa is output from the counting unit 1, and t2, t3,... T (n-1) are times that are integral multiples of the time T after the output of the counting start signal Sa. Each timing, tn, is the timing when the counting end signal Sb is output from the counting unit 1. However, when the time from the output timing of the count start signal Sa to the output timing of the count end signal Sb is T or less, the timings t2, t3,..., T (n-1) in FIG. Become.
[0042]
Further, when the counting end signal Sb is output from the counting unit 1 in response to the completion of the counting operation in the counting unit 1, the gift voucher KT issued from the counting unit 1 in relation to the counting operation is displayed. Management data ΔD corresponding to the recorded data (device number, ticket issuing number, ball count data, remainder data) is stored in the data memory 7.
[0043]
FIG. 8 shows the contents of control by the image output control apparatus 10, which will be described below.
That is, in FIG. 8, the image output control device 10 stands by until an image request signal Sr transmitted from the POS terminal 8 is input (step C1). The image request signal Sr is transmitted when the barcode a7 (see FIG. 11) of the gift voucher KT is read as described later in the POS terminal 8, and the format example shown in FIG. As described above, the type code indicating the image request signal Sr, the terminal number that is a serial number unique to the POS terminal 8, and the ticket issuing number in the barcode a7 read by the POS terminal 8 are combined. ing.
[0044]
When the image request signal Sr is input, the superimpose processing routine C2 is executed. In this routine C2, the time-lapse image data group corresponding to the ticket issuing number included in the image request signal Sr (that is, the counting unit 1 that has issued the above-mentioned gift voucher KT and its surroundings from the image memory 6). And the data corresponding to the ticket issuing number (device number, ball count data, remainder data, date / time data) are read from the data memory 7, and the ticket issuing number and read data are read out. Then, screen composition (mixing processing) is performed in which the superimpose processing is performed on each time-lapse image data read out as described above.
[0045]
After execution of such superimpose processing routine C2, the time-lapse image data group that has been subjected to superimposition processing as described above in image output processing routine C3 becomes the transmission source of the image request signal Sr. Control to transmit to the POS terminal 8 is performed, and thereafter, the process returns to the determination step C1.
[0046]
In short, when the POS terminal 8 performs a data reading operation from the gift voucher KT, the image output control device 10 captures the counting unit 1 that is the issuer of the gift voucher KT and its surroundings. After the captured image data is superposed on the data (ticketing number, device number, number of balls data, remainder data, date / time data) recorded on the voucher KT, such processing is performed. The time-lapse image data is answered back to the POS terminal 8.
[0047]
Now, the POS terminal 8 is configured as described below.
That is, in FIG. 15 showing the electrical configuration of the POS terminal 8 by a combination of functional blocks, the card reader 17 obtains the barcode a7 recorded on the premium voucher KT from the premium voucher KT brought by the player. It is provided for reading and giving to the control unit 8a (corresponding to the reproduction control means in the present invention).
[0048]
The control unit 8a is configured to include a microcomputer, and based on data read by the card reader 17, an operation signal from the operation unit 18, and a control program stored in advance, a display unit 19 including a liquid crystal display or the like. Data display control through the monitor device 20 such as a CRT display, data print control through the printing unit 21, and data transmission / reception control through the transmission / reception unit 22 are performed. The contents will be described with reference to FIG.
[0049]
In FIG. 16, the control unit 8a holds the standby state until the card reader 17 reads the barcode a7 recorded on the gift voucher KT (step E1). When the barcode a7 is read from the gift voucher KT, in the voucher verification processing routine E2, the read data is stored in a buffer memory area set in an internal memory (not shown), and the ID code and ticket issued in the read data are displayed. Each data of the number, the number of pachinko balls and the number of extra pachinko balls is collated with the management data ΔD received from the counting unit 1 through the relay device 9 and stored in the internal memory, and the prize is based on the collation result It is determined whether or not the voucher KT is authentic (step E3).
[0050]
If the gift voucher KT is not authentic, the acceptance refusal processing routine E4 displays on the display unit 19 that the corresponding gift voucher KT cannot be used and the stored contents of the buffer memory area. Is initialized, and thereafter, the process returns to the determination step E1.
[0051]
If the gift voucher KT is authentic, the payout display processing routine E5 calculates the number of pachinko balls and the number of surplus pachinko balls read from the gift voucher KT, and based on the data. Data indicating the number of payouts of the specific prize is displayed on the display unit 19.
[0052]
After execution of this payout display processing routine E5, after executing step E6 for transmitting the above-described image request signal Sr (see FIG. 18) to the image output control apparatus 10, the image display processing routine E7 is executed to determine. Return to E1. In this routine E7, a time-lapse image data group (data recorded in the gift voucher KT is superposed) that is answered back from the image output control device 10 in response to the transmission of the image request signal Sr. Frame-by-frame image data) is displayed on the monitor device 20 for each frame.
[0053]
FIG. 17 shows an example of reproduction by the monitor device 20. In this example, the date / time data in which the counting unit 1 photographed by the CCD camera 2 and the surrounding video are recorded in the gift voucher KT. It is in a state of being displayed together with a2, a device number and a ticket issuing number a3, a prize ball number a4, and a surplus pachinko ball number a5. In this case, the frame switching of the time-lapse image displayed on the monitor device 20 can be performed by an operation through the operation unit 18.
[0054]
In short, in the POS terminal 8, when the data recorded on the gift voucher KT brought by the player is read through the card reader 17, only when the gift voucher KT is authentic. The display unit 19 displays data necessary for paying out a prize by the voucher KT, and the monitor unit 20 displays the counting unit 1 that has issued the premium voucher KT and its surrounding time-lapse image data. become.
[0055]
Therefore, according to the configuration of the present embodiment described above, when the payout of the free gift using the free gift voucher KT is performed through the POS terminal 8, the counting unit 1 that has issued the free gift voucher KT is concerned. Since the time-lapse image showing the pattern of the counting operation for issuing the gift voucher KT is reproduced by the monitor device 20, the approximate number of pachinko balls thrown into the counting unit 1 by the reproduced image is determined. It becomes possible to confirm. Therefore, if the number of pachinko balls inserted into the counting unit 1 that can be confirmed through the image is greatly different from the data indicating the number of pachinko balls recorded on the gift voucher KT provided for the above-mentioned giveaway, Therefore, it is possible to reliably deal with an illegal act on the counting unit 1 based on the determination result.
[0056]
In this case, since the time-lapse image for monitoring is automatically reproduced when the prize is paid out using the prize voucher KT, the monitor apparatus 20 always reproduces the image reproduced by the monitor apparatus as in the past. As a result, it is possible to easily and efficiently monitor the fraudulent act on the counting unit 1 without increasing the burden on the supervisor (pachinko hall employee).
[0057]
In addition, when the time-lapse image is reproduced by the monitor device 20 as described above, management data (ticketing number, device number, number of balls data, remainder data) corresponding to the gift voucher KT is included in the reproduced image. , Date / time data) will be displayed as a superimpose image, and as described above, the number of pachinko balls to be input to the counting unit 1 that can be confirmed through the reproduced image on the monitor device 20 and the prize payout are provided. The difference from the pachinko ball number data recorded on the gift voucher KT can be quickly and easily determined, and the counter unit 1 can be dealt with more reliably.
[0058]
Further, during the period when the pachinko ball counting operation is performed in the counting unit 1, the first and last time-lapse images of the period are obtained, and the time-lapse images in the middle of the period are obtained at intervals of time T. Therefore, the reproduced image by the monitor device 21 can be obtained at an average interval during the pachinko ball counting operation period, so that it is possible to reliably confirm the illegal act through the reproduced image. .
[0059]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the following modifications or expansions are possible.
Counting device that counts pachinko balls thrown by the player and issues a record carrier (receipt or magnetic card, etc.) on which at least a unique identification code is recorded, and pachinko ball count data indicating the counting results of each time by this counting device Is stored in association with the identification code, and the game medium number data corresponding to the identification code recorded on the record carrier is read from the storage means, and the prize of the value corresponding to the game medium number data is paid out. It is good also as a structure provided with the prize payment apparatus for taking out.
[0060]
Although the counting unit 1 for counting pachinko balls is the monitoring target, a counting device for counting metal, which is a gaming medium for the slot machine, may be the monitoring target. In addition, the receipt-like gift voucher KT is issued as a record carrier, but a voucher made of a magnetic card is issued as a record carrier, or a magnetic card or an IC card issued in advance to a player. A configuration may be adopted in which predetermined management data is recorded and issued on a membership card. However, in the case of such a configuration, it is actually desirable to use a system that separately stores management data in a state associated with the ID code of the magnetic card or membership card in a host computer or the like. .
[0061]
In the period from when the counting start signal Sa is output from the counting unit 1 to when the counting end signal Sb is output, image data for a plurality of frames is obtained by photographing the counting unit 1 and its surroundings at a plurality of timings. However, any configuration that obtains image data for at least one frame may be used. Although various data is superimposed on the reproduced image by the monitor device 20, such a structure may be adopted as necessary. The reproduced image by the monitor device 20 may be either color or monochrome.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the contents of control by the recording control apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart 2 showing the contents of control by the recording control apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the recording control apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a view showing a camera number table set in the recording control apparatus.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a storage format of a data memory
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a storage format of an image memory
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the contents of control by the image output control apparatus.
FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the counting unit.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the contents of control by the counting unit.
FIG. 11 is a front view showing a gift voucher
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a format of a count start signal
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a format of a count end signal
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a format of management data
FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of a POS terminal.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the contents of control by the POS terminal.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of reproduction of time-lapse image data by the monitor device
FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a format of an image request signal
[Explanation of symbols]
1 is a counting unit (counting device), 1a is a control unit (signal generating means, auxiliary signal generating means), 2 is a CCD camera (imaging means), 3 is a recording control device (imaging control means), 4 is a switch unit, 6 Is an image memory (image data storage means), 7 is a data memory (management data storage means), 8 is a POS terminal (premium settlement device), 8a is a control unit (reproduction control means), 10 is an image output control device, 17 Is a card reader, 20 is a monitor device, and KT is a gift voucher (record carrier).

Claims (3)

A counting device for counting the number of game media inserted by the player and issuing a record carrier that records at least a game medium number data and a unique identification code indicating the counting result, and a game medium number data recorded on the record carrier. A game hall equipped with a prize settlement device for paying out a prize of a corresponding value, or a counting device that counts game media input by a player and issues a record carrier on which at least a unique identification code is recorded A storage means for storing game medium number data indicating a counting result of each time by the counting device in association with the identification code; and game medium number data corresponding to the identification code recorded on the record carrier from the storage means. A supervision set up in a game hall equipped with a prize settlement device for reading and paying out prizes with a value corresponding to the number of game media data. In the device,
A signal generating means provided in the counting device and outputting an operation signal at a predetermined timing at least during a counting operation period of the counting device;
An imaging device arranged to be capable of photographing the counting device and its periphery; and
Imaging control means for obtaining time-lapse image data of the counting device and its surroundings by capturing image data from the imaging device at a timing based on an operation signal output from the counting device;
Image data storage means for sequentially storing the time-lapse image data in a state associated with an identification code recorded on a record carrier issued at the time of image capture;
A monitor device provided in association with the premium settlement device and capable of reproducing the time-lapse image data;
Reproduction control provided in the premium settlement apparatus, which reads out time-lapse image data corresponding to the identification code recorded on the record carrier from the image data storage means and reproduces it on the monitor device when the prize is paid out by the record carrier And a game room monitoring device. Auxiliary signal generating means provided in the counting device and outputting management data including the game medium number data and the identification code recorded on the issued record carrier from the counting device;
Management data storage means for sequentially storing the management data output from the data generation means,
The reproduction control means is a management data corresponding to the identification code when the time-lapse image data corresponding to the identification code recorded on the record carrier is reproduced by the monitor device when the prize is paid out by the record carrier. 2. The game room monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the game data is read out from the management data storage means and displayed in a reproduced image by the monitor device. The signal generating means is configured to generate a count start signal and a count end signal as the operation signals at a counting operation start timing and a counting operation end timing of the counting device,
The imaging control means obtains the time-lapse image data at the time when the counting start signal is output, and then repeats the operation to obtain the time-lapse image data every time a preset time elapses. 3. The game room monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein an operation for obtaining time-lapse image data is executed when the counting end signal is output.

Images