JP5140258B2 - Sand device, management server, deposit balance settlement machine and game system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sand device, a management server, a deposit balance adjusting machine, and a game system, and can be applied to a game system including, for example, a sand device provided in association with a pachinko machine, a pachislot machine, or the like. .

  Sand devices provided in connection with pachinko machines, pachislot machines, etc., discharge game media such as game balls and game coins according to deposit processing, etc., and instruct game machines to discharge game media To do. As a depositing method for the sand device, there is a method of using a card such as a prepaid card or a membership card in addition to a depositing method by cash. Here, when the membership card is inserted into the sand device, the sand device and the game hall management server (the management server and the host controller are collectively called the management server) communicate to authenticate the member. .

  However, in the case of a sand device that uses a card, there is a possibility of fraudulent behavior such that when the player temporarily leaves for some reason, the card is removed from the sand device and the card is misused. In the case of a sand device using a card, there are many mechanical configurations such as a card transport mechanism and a card reading mechanism, and the occurrence frequency of abnormalities such as a card jam or a reading error is high.

  Therefore, a sanding device having a function (for example, accumulating a deposit balance and lending a ball from the accumulated balance) similar to the case of using a card without using a card is desired.

  By the way, there are various devices in the game hall, and some devices that handle money or game media having the same value as money already have fingerprint authentication to authenticate operators such as employees. Some have applied functions (see Patent Documents 1 to 3).

  The fingerprint authentication function is easy to apply to the sand apparatus because of its small reading configuration and the like, but authentication is OK even when fingerprint reading is forced by another person.

In consideration of such points, a face authentication function that gives the consciousness being captured not only to the person to be authenticated but also to the surrounding persons is preferable (refer to Patent Document 4 for face authentication).
JP 2000-61124 A JP 2002-126177 A JP 2002-8131 A JP 2004-152127 A

  By the way, when a contact such as fingerprint authentication is a requirement and the reading range by imaging is narrow, the imaging environment hardly poses a problem. On the other hand, in the case of face authentication, the imaging area becomes large, and the influence of the imaging environment is great.

  In addition, the amusement hall has a lighting effect such as cocktail light, many players search for suitable platforms, and the influence of external light varies depending on the distance from the entrance and exit. It is a place where the environment changes drastically. In addition, the person to be imaged is a player who is sitting on a chair with a small backrest and is facing a gaming machine, and how to sit down (such as how to sit forward and lean back) also has a large effect on the captured image. . In other words, the game environment has poor imaging environment and imaging conditions, and if the existing face authentication method is applied as it is, even a person who is subject to authentication OK may not be authenticated. In order to avoid such inconvenience, if the threshold for determination at the time of authentication is made small (if authentication OK is easy to be issued), there is a high possibility that the subject of authentication NG will be authenticated.

  Therefore, a sand device, a management server, a deposit balance adjusting machine, and a game system that can achieve sufficient authentication accuracy while applying the face authentication method is desired.

  In order to solve such a problem, the sand apparatus of the present invention of claim 1 takes in a cash deposit and discharges a predetermined number of game media according to a lending operation, or with respect to a corresponding gaming machine. A sanding device for instructing the discharge of a unit number of game media and reducing the incorporated deposit balance by a predetermined unit, (1) imaging means for imaging a player's face, and (2) from the imaging means Reference data storage means for storing reference data of the density or color tone of the background area in the image pickup signal, and (3) the density or color tone of the background area in the image pickup signal from the image pickup means is stored in the reference data storage means. Imaging signal correction means for correcting the imaging signal so as to match the reference data, (4) accumulation instruction fetch means for fetching a deposit balance accumulation instruction operation, and (5) accumulation instruction fetch means. When the storage instructing operation is performed, the image pickup means picks up the image, and the image pickup signal correction means corrects the image pickup signal, or face data composed of compressed data obtained by compressing the image pickup signal and payment balance data And (6) a withdrawal instruction fetching means for fetching a withdrawal instruction operation for a deposit balance accumulated in the management server by the accumulation transmission control means, and (7) ) When there is an extraction instruction operation to the extraction instruction fetching means, the image pickup means picks up the image, and the image pickup signal after the image pickup signal correction means corrects, or compressed data obtained by characteristic compression of the image pickup signal A deposit balance withdrawal control means for transmitting the face data to the management server, authenticating the face, and transmitting the accumulated deposit balance data from the management server.

  The management server of the present invention according to claim 2 is a management server for managing the state of each sand device, and (1) a face database in which face data is associated with deposit balance data, and (2) each sand device. Reference data storage means for storing reference data of the density or color tone of the background area in the image pickup signal transmitted from (3), and the deposit balance transmitted from any of the above-mentioned sand devices in order to accumulate the deposit balance The image signal is corrected so that the contrast or color tone of the background area in the transmitted image signal matches the reference data stored in the reference data storage means, and the corrected image signal, or Deposit balance registration means for storing the corrected imaging signal in the face database in association with feature-compressed face data, and (4) The image signal is corrected so that the contrast or color tone of the background region in the image signal transmitted from the sand device matches the reference data stored in the reference data storage means, or the corrected image signal, or The face database is searched based on the face data obtained by subjecting the corrected image pickup signal to feature compression, and when there is matching face data, the deposit balance data associated with the face data is converted to the image pickup signal. It has the 1st deposit balance supply means transmitted to the said sand apparatus of a transmission source, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  The present invention of claim 3 is the management server of the present invention of claim 2, in order to settle the deposit balance, the density or color tone of the background area in the imaging signal transmitted from any deposit balance settlement machine, The face database is corrected based on the corrected imaging signal or the face data obtained by characteristic compression of the corrected imaging signal so as to match the reference data stored in the reference data storage means. When there is matching face data, a second deposit balance supply means for transmitting the deposit balance data associated with the face data to the upper deposit balance settlement machine from which the imaging signal is transmitted It is characterized by having.

  The deposit balance settlement machine of the present invention according to claim 4 is a deposit balance settlement machine that settles a deposit balance that has not been converted into a game medium, and (1) an imaging means that images a player's face, and (2) Reference data storage means for storing reference data of the density or color tone of the background area in the imaging signal from the imaging means; and (3) the density or color tone of the background area in the imaging signal from the imaging means is the reference data storage means. Imaging signal correction means for correcting the imaging signal so as to match the reference data stored in (4), a payment instruction fetching means for fetching the payment balance settlement instruction operation, and (5) fetching the payment instruction. When the settlement instruction operation is performed on the means, the image pickup means picks up an image, and the image pickup signal corrected by the image pickup signal correction means, or face data composed of compressed data obtained by characteristic compression of the image pickup signal A payment amount fetching means for transmitting and performing face authentication and transmitting the accumulated deposit balance data from the management server; and (6) discharging cash corresponding to the deposit balance data transmitted from the management server. And a settlement money discharging means.

  A gaming system according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes a management server that manages the state of each sand device, and the plurality of sand devices according to the first aspect.

The present invention of claim 6 is the gaming system of claim 5, further comprising the deposit balance settlement machine according to claim 4.
A gaming system according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is a management system according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of sand devices that transmit to the management server image signals that have not been subjected to gradation or color tone correction, in which the player's face is imaged. It is characterized by having.
The gaming system of the present invention according to claim 8 is provided with a plurality of sand devices for transmitting to a management server an image signal in which a gradation or color tone correction for imaging a player's face is not performed, and a gradation for imaging a player's face. Or it has the deposit balance adjustment machine which transmits the image pick-up signal in which color tone correction | amendment is not performed to a management server, and the management server of Claim 3. It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to the sand device, the management server, the deposit balance adjusting machine, and the game system of the present invention, it is possible to achieve sufficient authentication accuracy while applying the face authentication method with respect to a game field having poor imaging environment and imaging conditions.

(A) Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a sand apparatus, a management server, a deposit balance adjusting machine and a game system according to the present invention are applied to a game system relating to a game hall having a pachinko machine and a pachislot machine will be described with reference to the drawings. It will be described in detail.

(A-1) Configuration of Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the gaming system of this embodiment. In FIG. 1, the gaming system 1 of this embodiment includes a plurality of gaming machines 2, a sand device 3, an island unit controller 4, a management server 5, a database 6, a deposit balance adjusting machine 7, and a pager base station 8.

  There are various types of gaming machines 2 such as pachinko machines and slot machines. In the following description, it is assumed that the gaming machine 2 is a pachinko machine.

  The sand device 3 is provided in parallel with each gaming machine 2 and is for renting game balls. The sanding device 3 of this embodiment lends game balls based on cash or accumulated deposit balance, and uses a face authentication function for accumulation of deposit balance and retrieval of accumulated deposit balance.

  The island unit controller 4 is provided in common for a plurality of pairs of gaming machines 2 and sand devices 3 that form a gaming island in the game hall, and relays communication between the management server 5 and the gaming machines 2 and sand devices 3. It has a function. Note that the gaming machine 2 and the sand device 3 may be capable of directly communicating with the management server 5 without using the island unit controller 4.

  The management server 5 is responsible for management functions such as information for each sand device 3 and game information for each gaming machine 2, and also has a collation function during face authentication processing. 6 is provided in relation. The database 6 also includes a face database 6a and a sand database 6b. The management server 5 may be common to a plurality of game halls, or may be installed at a place other than the game hall.

  The deposit balance settlement machine 7 is arranged near, for example, a prize exchange or an exit, and settles a deposit balance that has not been converted into game media out of the deposited amount.

  The pager base station 8 is a base station that communicates with a pager terminal (not shown) that is carried by a game hall employee, and is provided in the game hall.

  For example, between the management server 5 arranged in a management room or the like and the gaming machine 2, sand device 3, island unit controller 4, deposit balance settlement machine 7 and pager base station 8 arranged in the game hall The game network 9 is used for the communication. Communication using a dedicated line or the like instead of the game hall network 9 may be used.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of the sand device 3 according to the embodiment. About the sand apparatus 3 in the installed state, a warning lamp 11, a plurality of (three examples are shown in FIG. 2) status display LEDs 12a to 12c, a bill insertion slot 13, and a coin insertion slot 14 are provided on the surface. The remote control communication window 15, the display LCD 16, the numeric keypad 17, the coin return port 18, and the CCD camera window 19 can be seen.

  The warning lamp 11 is lit or blinked to issue a warning when an abnormality occurs in the sand device 3 (for example, when a contradiction occurs in face authentication as described later).

  The status display LEDs 12a to 12c display the status of the sand device 3 or the corresponding gaming machine 2 by lighting or flashing, or a combination of lighting or flashing. For example, a waiting state for face imaging, a processing state after reading, and the like are displayed.

  The banknote insertion slot 13 is a part for receiving banknotes related to depositing, and the coin insertion slot 14 is a part for receiving coins related to depositing. The coin return port 18 is a part that discharges non-regular coins when depositing. In addition, the sand apparatus which limited the deposit | denomination money type only to the banknote may be sufficient, and the coin insertion port 14 and the coin return port 18 are unnecessary in this case.

  The remote control communication window 15 is a window portion for taking in a remote control signal by infrared rays or the like from a remote control transmitter (not shown) that is carried by a game hall employee and issues an instruction to the sand device 3.

  The display LCD 16 displays management information given from the management server 5 or the like or formed by the sand device 3. The numeric keypad 17 captures operation information such as players and employees. The display LCD 16 and the numeric keypad 17 constitute an operation panel unit.

  The CCD camera window 19 is a window portion provided with a later-described CCD camera portion 29 (see FIG. 3). The later-described CCD camera portion 29 is used for face authentication via the window portion 19. The imaging is performed. The CCD camera window 19 may be formed of a transparent flat plate or may be formed of a hemispherical plate. The CCD camera window 19 may be integrated with the CCD camera unit 29 and swings in the left-right direction as will be described later.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the sand apparatus 3 according to the embodiment. The sand device 3 includes, as an electrical processing configuration, a control unit 20, a communication unit 21, a remote control receiving unit 22, a bill processing unit 23, a coin processing unit 24, a warning lamp driver unit 25, an LED driver unit 26, and a display LCD driver unit. 27, a numeric keypad interface unit (tenkey IF unit) 28, a CCD camera unit 29, and the like.

  The control unit 20 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and governs overall control of the sand device 3. For example, the control unit 20 controls each unit so that the sand apparatus 3 performs operations as illustrated in flowcharts of FIGS. 7 to 9, 11, and 14 described later. The control unit 20 stores data necessary for the control operation. For example, payment balance data that has been deposited and not converted into a game medium is stored.

  In this embodiment, the control unit 20 controls the sand device 3 and the sand device 3R on the right side (right side when viewed from the player side) (hereinafter, “R” at the end of the symbol is the right sand device). A pair of face data for registration or authentication (face data of a stereo image) is processed by processing the imaging signals (face image signals) given from the CCD camera units 29 and 29R. The process of converting to is done. Face data obtained by processing the imaging signal of the CCD camera unit 29 (hereinafter referred to as an analog / digital converted imaging signal) is referred to as “right imaging face data”, and the imaging signal of the CCD camera unit 29R. The face data obtained by processing is referred to as “left captured face data”. In addition, an imaging signal that is a source for creating right imaging face data is referred to as a right imaging signal, and an imaging signal that is a source for generating left imaging face data is referred to as a left imaging signal.

  The control unit 20 internally stores a pair of reference grayscale data 20a and 20aR for the right imaging signal and the left imaging signal, and the right imaging signal or the left imaging signal from the CCD camera units 29 and 29R is used as the right imaging face data or When converting to left imaging face data, as will be described later, density correction is performed in advance on the right imaging signal or the left imaging signal using the reference density data 20a and 20aR. The shading correction function will be described in detail in the operation description section.

  The reference grayscale data 20a, 20aR is set by a setting operator such as a manufacturer-related person or a game hall-related person when, for example, the sand apparatus 3, 3R is installed, and thereafter is fixedly held. As the reference grayscale data 20a, 20aR, for example, a person concerned is seated at the player's position in front of the gaming machine 2, and the lighting environment is set to a predetermined environment regardless of the island position of the gaming machine 2 with a portable lighting device. From the right imaging signal and the left imaging signal captured by the CCD camera units 29 and 29R, the setting operator designates the area of the background portion, and uses the right imaging signal and the left imaging signal in the area. For example, if the right imaging signal or the left imaging signal shows a machine number provided at the upper part of the gaming machine (pachinko machine or pachislot machine) at the opposite position, the right imaging signal or the left imaging signal A signal in a small area including the machine number at is set as the reference grayscale data 20a, 20aR.

  In addition, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted for acquisition and setting of the above reference grayscale data 20a and 20aR, the sand apparatus 3 has a connection connector with the terminal for a setting which has a monitor part, and controls with a terminal. Signals can be exchanged with the unit 20. Note that signal exchange via the communication unit 21 may be used.

  Note that even if the lighting environment is set to the predetermined environment, the degree of achievement of the predetermined environment may vary depending on the time zone. Therefore, as the reference grayscale data 20a, a separate value is provided for each time zone so that the density correction described later can be easily performed. You may make it prepare a thing.

  In the case of this embodiment, as described above, the face data of a pair of left and right stereo images is used for face authentication. A thin device that has only an imaging function (hereinafter referred to as the right-side pachinko machine) on the right side of the right-side pachinko machine so that a stereo image can be obtained even if the right-side pachinko machine has no sand device on the right, An imaging-dedicated sand device is provided. This image-capturing sand device is also the same as the general sand device 3 in terms of the image capturing function for face authentication.

  The communication unit 21 performs communication with the gaming machine 2, the island unit controller 4, the management server 5, and the like under the control of the control unit 20. Although shown collectively in FIG. 3, the communication unit for gaming machines 2 is often separate from the communication units for other devices. The management server 5 employs a polling method in which the sand apparatus 3 is sequentially communicated with each other, and the communication unit 21 communicates with the management server 5 in response to such polling. Do. The deposit balance settlement machine 7 may be the target of the polling method from the management server 5 as with the sand device 3.

  The sand device 3 communicates with an adjacent sand device 3R (which may be an imaging-only sand device) 3R via the island unit controller 4.

  The remote control receiving unit 22 receives a remote control signal from a remote control transmitter (not shown) carried by the game hall employee via the remote control communication window 15 described above, and gives it to the control unit 20. is there.

  The banknote processing unit 23 directly controls a banknote transport configuration, a recognition configuration, a storage configuration, and the like (not shown), performs authenticity determination and denomination determination of the banknote inserted from the banknote insertion port 13 described above, Information on the inserted bill is given to the control unit 20. In addition, when it determines with what was inserted in the banknote insertion slot 13 is a fake banknote, the banknote process part 23 performs the process which discharges the determination paper from the banknote insertion slot 13. FIG.

  The coin processing unit 24 directly controls a coin conveyance configuration, a recognition configuration, a storage configuration, and the like (not shown), performs true / false determination and denomination determination of the coins inserted from the coin insertion port 14 described above, Information on the inserted coins is given to the control unit 20. Note that the coin processing unit 24 performs a process of discharging the false determination coin from the coin return port 18 when it is determined that the coin inserted into the coin insertion slot 14 is a fake coin. In addition, you may make it limit the coin which the said sand apparatus 3 can handle to a 500 yen coin. This makes it easy to determine the authenticity of coins and denominations.

  The warning lamp driver unit 25 drives the warning lamp 11 under the control of the control unit 20, and the LED driver unit 26 drives the status display LEDs 12a to 12c under the control of the control unit 20. .

  The display LCD driver unit 27 drives the display LCD 16 under the control of the control unit 20. The display LCD 16 displays, for example, deposit balance data that can be converted into game media, other data, and messages. The ten key interface unit 28 senses an operation on the ten key unit 17 and notifies the control unit 20 of an operation signal.

  The CCD camera unit 29 images the player's face through the CCD camera window 19 under the control of the control unit 20 and gives the image signal to the control unit 20. In the case of this embodiment, the CCD camera unit 29 has a monochrome CCD camera and a left-right adjustment mechanism that is provided with this CCD camera and swings (rotates) in the left-right direction, although not shown. ing.

  The sand device 3 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 does not have a game medium discharge function (ball lending function), and activates and controls the game medium discharge function (ball lending function) of the gaming machine 2. A game medium discharge function (ball lending function) may be provided.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the management server 5 according to the embodiment. 4, the management server 5 includes a control unit 30, a communication unit 31, a database access unit (DB access unit) 32, and the like.

  The control unit 30 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and governs overall control of the management server 5. For example, the control unit 30 controls each unit so that the management server 5 executes operations as illustrated in flowcharts of FIGS. 12, 13, 16, and 17 described later. The control unit 30 stores data necessary for the control operation.

  The communication unit 31 performs communication with the sand device 3 (and the combination with the gaming machine 2), the island unit controller 4, the deposit balance adjusting machine 7, the pager base station 8, and the like under the control of the control unit 30. is there. Although shown collectively in FIG. 4, you may provide the some communication part used selectively by the communicating party. The communication unit 31 communicates with each sand apparatus 3 according to a polling method.

  The database access unit 32 accesses the database 6 under the control of the control unit 20, and writes and reads data.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the face database 6 a in the database 6. One record of the face database 6a includes fields (items) such as right imaged face data, left imaged face data, registration time data, deposit balance data, and sand history data.

  The right imaged face data is face characteristic data obtained by processing any face image data of the player of the gaming machine 2 corresponding to the sand device 3 or the face image data. In the left imaged face data, the sand device 3R on the right side of the sand device 3 that is the imaging source of the right imaged face data is the face image data of the player of the gaming machine 2 corresponding to the sand device 3 or its face image. This is facial feature data obtained by processing the data.

  Each record of the face database 6a is sorted by the right imaged face data. That is, it is sorted by the arrangement of “0” and “1” from the head of the right imaged face data. Unlike general face authentication, the face data in this embodiment is that of an unspecified person. Therefore, when collating face data, the range of face data used for collation from other information can hardly be narrowed, and the collation time is shortened to some extent by sorting.

  The registration time data is the time (including date and time information) when the record is formed. The settlement of the deposit balance in cash is allowed only on the day when the deposit balance is accumulated, for example. In this case, it is determined whether or not cash settlement may be performed based on the registration time data. Further, for example, the withdrawal balance data stored in the database 6 may be accepted only for a predetermined period (for example, one month) from the initial storage time (at the time of registration). It becomes.

  The deposit balance data is the amount of the deposit balance that can be converted into a game medium. When this deposit balance is converted into a game medium, registered face data (right imaged face data, left imaged face data) It is necessary to match the face data obtained by imaging at that time.

  Sand history data is a part that stores a part excluding face data together with a reception time when transmission data including face data arrives.

  The sand database 6b stores various data for each sand device 3 although illustration of the configuration is omitted. For example, data on the deposit amount and deposit time of cash deposit is stored. Further, for example, data indicating whether or not the gaming machine 2 corresponding to the sand device 3 is playing is stored. However, face data is not stored in the sand database 6b.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the deposit balance settlement machine 7 according to the embodiment. In FIG. 6, the deposit balance settlement machine 7 has a control unit 40, a communication unit 41, a bill processing unit 42, a coin processing unit 43, a warning lamp driver unit 44, a status LED driver unit 45, a key interface as an electrical processing configuration. Part (key IF part) 46 and a pair of CCD camera parts 47L and 47R.

  The control unit 40 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and governs overall control of the deposit balance settlement machine 7. For example, the control unit 40 controls each unit so that the deposit balance adjusting machine 7 executes an operation as shown in a flowchart of FIG. The control unit 40 stores data necessary for the control operation.

  In the case of this embodiment, the control unit 40 processes the left and right imaging signals given from the CCD camera units 47L and 47R and converts them into right imaging face data or left imaging face data. The control unit 40 internally stores a pair of reference grayscale data 40a, 40aR for the right imaging signal and the left imaging signal, and the right imaging signal or the left imaging signal from the CCD camera units 47L, 47R is used as the right imaging face data or When converting to left imaging face data, as will be described later, density correction is performed in advance on the right imaging signal and the left imaging signal using the reference density data 40a and 40aR.

  The communication unit 41 performs communication with the management server 5 under the control of the control unit 40. The management server 5 may also be a polling target for the deposit balance settlement machine 7 as in the sand device 3. In this case, the communication unit 41 communicates with the management server 5 in response to the polling. . Note that the communication unit 41 may communicate with the management server 5 without being polled.

  The banknote processing unit 42 directly controls a banknote conveyance configuration, a banknote storage configuration, and the like (not shown), and is instructed when it is necessary to discharge the banknote in refunding the deposit balance under the control of the control unit 40. The indicated number of banknotes of the denomination is discharged to a banknote outlet (not shown).

  The coin processing unit 43 directly controls a coin transport configuration and storage configuration (not shown), and is instructed when coins need to be discharged in the refund of the deposit balance under the control of the control unit 40. The designated number of coins is discharged to a coin discharge port (not shown).

  The warning lamp driver unit 44 drives a warning lamp (not shown) under the control of the control unit 40.

  The state LED driver unit 45 drives one or a plurality of state LEDs (not shown) under the control of the control unit 40. The player is prompted to sit in a chair (not shown) provided at the imaging position by lighting or blinking (or a combination thereof) of the status LED. The key interface unit 46 senses an operation on an unillustrated settlement key, a staff call key, and the like, and notifies the control unit 40 of an operation signal.

  The CCD camera units 47L and 47R take an image of a player seated in a chair provided at an imaging position under the control of the control unit 40, and give the image signal to the control unit 40. Here, the positional relationship between the chair provided at the imaging position in the deposit balance adjusting machine 7 and the CCD camera unit 47L is as follows: the chair in front of the gaming machine 2 and the CCD camera in the sand device 3 corresponding to the gaming machine 2 The positional relationship between the chair provided at the imaging position in the deposit balance settlement machine 7 and the CCD camera unit 47R corresponds to the chair in front of the gaming machine 2 and the gaming machine 2. This is similar to the relationship with the CCD camera unit 29R in the sand device 3R on the right side of the sand device 3 to be operated. Note that the CCD camera units 47L and 47R of the deposit balance settlement machine 7 do not have to be provided with a horizontal swing mechanism, unlike the CCD camera unit 29 of the sand apparatus 3, for example.

  Since the detailed configurations of the gaming machine 2, the island unit controller 4, and the pager base station 8 are the same as those of the conventional one, description of the detailed configurations is omitted.

(A-2) Operation | movement of embodiment Next, characteristic operation | movement of the game system 1 of embodiment is demonstrated. This embodiment is characterized in that face authentication is used for accumulation and withdrawal of the deposit balance and a density correction function for an image pickup signal is introduced.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of a process branch from the standby state of the sand apparatus 3 according to the embodiment.

  In the standby state, the control unit 20 of the sand device 3 repeatedly monitors whether ball lending has been instructed, cash has been deposited, whether payment using face authentication has been instructed, or refund of the deposit balance has been instructed. (S100 to S103).

  When the ball lending key of the sand device 3 or the ball lending key of the gaming machine 2 that is paired with the sand device 3 is operated, the control unit 20 receives the deposit balance data stored therein. If the deposit balance data is 0, the process immediately returns to the standby state. If the deposit balance data is other than 0, the ball lending process is executed (S105), and the standby is performed. Return to state.

  In the ball lending process, although detailed illustration of the process is omitted, the control unit 20 discharges a predetermined number of game media to the game medium cradle of the gaming machine 2 in cooperation with a game medium discharge mechanism (not shown). At the same time, the deposit balance data stored internally is reduced by one unit, and the display of the deposit balance on the display LCD 16 is updated, and the management server 5 is notified of changes in the deposit balance data. At this time, the management server 5 updates the deposit balance data of the sand device 3 in the sand database 6b storing data for each sand device 3 (or for each gaming machine 2) in the database 6.

  The notification (transmission) of various data to the management server 5 is executed at a timing when the management server 5 gives the transmission right to the sand device 3 by polling. Hereinafter, although polling is not mentioned one by one, similarly, data transmission from the sand device 3 to the management server 5 is executed at the polling timing.

  Further, the control unit 20 of the sand apparatus 3 stores the internal processing of the detailed processing when there is a payment notification from the banknote processing unit 23 and the coin processing unit 24, that is, when there is cash payment, although the detailed processing is omitted. The deposit balance data is increased by the deposit amount, the display of the deposit balance on the display LCD 16 is updated, and the deposit balance data of the management server 5 is also updated by notifying the management server 5 of changes in the deposit balance data (S106). ) And return to the standby state.

  The control unit 20 of the sand device 3 shifts to the refund process shown in FIG. 8 when an instruction to refund (accumulate) the deposit balance is made, and when the deposit using face authentication is instructed, the control unit 20 of FIG. The process proceeds to a deposit process using the face authentication shown in FIG.

  When a refund key provided in the numeric keypad portion 17 of the sand device 3 or a refund key provided in the gaming machine 2 corresponding to the sand device 3 is operated, in other words, the deposit balance is refunded. When instructed, as shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 20 of the sand device 3 first checks whether the deposit balance data is 0 (S150). If the deposit balance data is 0, Returning to the standby state shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, if the deposit balance data is other than 0, the control unit 20 of the sand device 3 determines the imaging time and includes a combination of lighting or blinking of the status display LEDs 12a to 12c (including the case where only one is lighting or blinking; In the same manner) or by displaying a message on the display LCD 16, the player is notified that the image will be captured soon (S 151), and the control unit 20 R of the right sand device 3 R is instructed to perform left imaging including the imaging time. (S152).

  The control unit 20 of the sand device 3 is omitted in FIG. 8, but the CCD camera at the above imaging time is provided on the condition that there is a reception response to the left imaging instruction from the control unit 20R of the right sand device 3R. The image is picked up by the unit 29 (S153), and the left image pickup signal picked up by the CCD camera unit 29R of the right sand device 3R is taken in (S154). When there is no reception response to the left imaging instruction, the left imaging instruction is retransmitted.

  Although omitted in FIG. 8, when the left imaging instruction is given, the control unit 20R of the right sand device 3R confirms that imaging is possible (if imaging is impossible, For example, when preparation or operation for right imaging is being performed (when the processing of S153 in FIG. 8 is started), a reception response is returned and the CCD camera unit 29R is configured to perform left imaging. The control unit 20 of the sand apparatus 3 that is the instruction source is configured to instruct to swing, and then the CCD camera unit 29R captures an image at the imaging time included in the left imaging instruction, and the obtained imaging signal (left imaging signal). Send to.

  Note that the standby direction of each sand device 3 in the CCD camera unit 29 is the direction in which the player of the sand device 3 is imaged (right imaging).

  Further, the player's orientation at the time of imaging is not questioned. However, the direction may be instructed by a message “I will take an image soon”. For example, the player may be instructed to face the reel at the center of the gaming machine 2, or may be instructed to face the CCD camera window 19 of the sand device 3, for example.

  Thereafter, the control unit 20 of the sand device 3 uses the set reference grayscale data 20a and 20aR for the right imaging signal obtained by the CCD camera unit 29 and the left imaging signal obtained by the CCD camera unit 29R. Correction is performed (S155).

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing details of the density correction operation for the image pickup signal in step S155. FIG. 9 shows an example in which processing is performed in the order of density correction operation for the right imaging signal and density correction operation for the left imaging signal.

  First, the control unit 20 recognizes an area corresponding to the reference grayscale data 20a in the right imaging signal (S175). In this recognition, since the position information of the reference grayscale data 20a is fixed, the degree of coincidence with the region in the right imaging signal (for example, the sum of squares of differences between pixel values at corresponding positions is applied) is calculated. At the same time, the degree of coincidence with other candidate areas shifted by several pixels (1 to 5 pixels) in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction from the position is calculated, and the degree of coincidence is the highest (the degree of coincidence value is the highest The (small) candidate area is recognized as the corresponding area. If the highest degree of matching is smaller than the threshold value, as captured at the moment when the third person passes through the passage, the following processing is performed when the corresponding region cannot be recognized.

  Next, the control unit 20 detects the minimum luminance and the maximum luminance in the recognition area (S176), and detects the minimum luminance min and the maximum luminance max, and the minimum luminance MIN and the maximum luminance MAX (these values) in the reference grayscale data 20a. May be detected at this time, and these may be set at the time of setting), and a correction function for each luminance in the right imaging signal is determined (S177). Then, the control unit 20 corrects the right imaging signal according to the determined correction function (S178).

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the correction function. In FIG. 10, the horizontal axis (x-axis) is a coordinate axis with the luminance in the right imaging signal as a variable, and the vertical axis (Y-axis) is a coordinate axis with the luminance in the reference grayscale data 20a as a variable. It is desirable that the luminance in the right imaging signal matches the luminance in the reference grayscale data 20a, that is, the straight line L0 having an inclination of 45 degrees in FIG. 10 represents an ideal relationship between the two luminances. Therefore, a function for correcting the luminance line L1 in the right imaging signal to the line L0 is a correction function. The correction amount for the minimum luminance min is MIN-min, and the correction amount for the maximum luminance max is MAX-max. The correction amount of the luminance y between the minimum luminance min and the maximum luminance max is a ratio between the minimum luminance min and the maximum luminance max, and the correction amount MIN-min and the maximum of the minimum luminance min. The luminance max correction amount MAX-max is distributed and combined at the above-mentioned proportional ratio.

  The control unit 20 also performs the density correction operation similar to steps S175 to S178 for the left imaging signal (S179 to S182).

  Returning to FIG. 8, when the density correction operation is finished, the control unit 20 converts the right imaging signal and the left imaging signal into right imaging face data and left imaging face data, which are feature data, respectively (S156), The obtained right imaged face data and left imaged face data are temporarily buffered (S157). Any existing method can be applied as the compression method for converting the imaging signal into the face data.

  Note that the refund may be refused while the gaming machine 2 corresponding to the sand device 3 is playing. That is, when performing imaging, other processing is prohibited and the timing of imaging is clearly defined. Since the face data is information belonging to an individual, it is registered for the first time when accumulating and refunding, so that unnecessary registration is not performed. Although omitted in FIG. 8, when the imaging fails or when the area corresponding to the reference grayscale data cannot be recognized in the imaging signal, the display contents of the status display LEDs 12a to 12c and the display message of the display LCD 16 are displayed. The content is that re-imaging is performed, and imaging is performed again.

  When the control unit 20 of the sand device 3 acquires the transmission right, the control unit 20 includes at least data indicating that it is for storage, ID of the sand device 3, deposit balance data, right imaged face data, and left imaged face data. The transmission data for accumulation is transmitted to the management server 5 (S158), the completion of imaging is displayed on the status display LEDs 12a to 12c or the display LCD 16 (S159), and the storage completion notification from the management server 5 is awaited (S160). Note that this transmission data for storage may be communicated by encrypted communication.

  Upon receiving the transmission data for accumulation, the control unit 30 of the management server 5 performs an accumulation operation of the deposit balance data in the face database 6a as shown in FIG. 12 (S200 to S203), and the deposit balance in the sand database 6b. The data is cleared to 0 (S204), and then the completion of accumulation is notified by polling transmission to the sand device 3 that has transmitted the transmission data for accumulation (S205).

  The accumulation operation of deposit balance data in the face database 6a by the control unit 30 of the management server 5 is, for example, as follows. The control unit 30 confirms whether a record of face data that matches the received face data (right imaged face data and left imaged face data) already exists (S200). If it exists, update the receipt balance data of the record to the original value plus the received balance data value, and add the history data related to this reception to the sand history data (S201). If a face data record matching the received face data does not exist in the face database 6a, a new record for the received face data is set (S202), and the received face data is set in the face data field. Insert the data, insert the current reception time by the timer built in the control unit 30 into the registration time data field, insert the received deposit balance data into the deposit balance data field, and insert into the sand history data field Inserts data relating to the current reception (S203). In setting a new record for received face data, sorting based on face data is performed.

  The presence of a face data record that matches the received face data in the face database 6a is at a level at which it can be determined that both the right imaged face data and the left imaged face data match the stored data of the record. . First, the degree of match is determined using only the right imaged face data. If the degree of match is equal to or greater than the first threshold value, the left imaged face data is determined to be matched without matching, and the right imaged face is detected. When the degree of match for data is smaller than the first threshold and greater than or equal to the second threshold, the match determination using the left imaged face data may be performed to shorten the average match determination time. . If the degree of match for the right imaged face data is smaller than the second threshold value, it is determined that they do not match.

  When receiving the accumulation completion notification from the management server 5, the control unit 20 of the sand device 3 clears the display of the deposit balance data to 0 (S161), and returns to the standby state of FIG.

  In the standby state, the control unit 20 of the sand device 3 is instructed to deposit using face authentication when the stored balance call key provided in the numeric keypad unit 17 or the like of the sand device 3 is operated. 11, the player is notified that the image will be taken soon by the combination of lighting or blinking of the status display LEDs 12a to 12c or the message display on the display LCD 16 (S250), as shown in FIG. A left imaging instruction including the imaging time is given to the control unit 20R of the adjacent sand apparatus 3R (S251).

  The control unit 20 of the sand device 3 is omitted in FIG. 11, but the CCD camera at the above imaging time is provided on condition that there is a reception response to the left imaging instruction from the control unit 20R of the right sand device 3R. The image is picked up by the unit 29 (S252), and the left image pickup signal picked up by the CCD camera unit 29R of the right sand device 3R is taken in (S253).

  Thereafter, the control unit 20 of the sand device 3 uses the set reference grayscale data 20a and 20aR for the right imaging signal obtained by the CCD camera unit 29 and the left imaging signal obtained by the CCD camera unit 29R. Correction is performed (S254), and the right and left corrected image signals are converted into face data composed of feature data (S255), and the obtained face data is temporarily buffered (S256).

  In addition, while the gaming machine 2 corresponding to the sand device 3 is playing, payment by face authentication may be refused. In other words, other processing is prohibited during imaging, and the imaging timing is clearly defined.

  When the control unit 20 of the sand device 3 has acquired the transmission right, the control unit 20 transmits to the management server 5 the transmission data for withdrawal including at least the data indicating that it is for withdrawal, the ID of the sand device 3 and the face data. (S257) The end of imaging is notified to the player (S258), and a reply such as a payment notification from the management server 5 is awaited (S259 to S262). It should be noted that communication of this outgoing transmission data may be performed by encrypted communication.

  When receiving the withdrawal transmission data, the control unit 30 of the management server 5 performs the withdrawal operation of the deposit balance data from the face database 6a as shown in FIG.

  The control unit 30 of the management server 5 checks whether or not a record of face data (right imaged face data and left imaged face data) that matches the received face data exists in the face database 6a (S300). The criterion for determining that a face data record that matches the received face data exists in the face database 6a is the same as the criterion for determining the balance accumulation described above.

  If it exists, it is determined whether or not the deposit balance data of the record is 0 (S301). If the deposit balance data is other than 0, the control unit 30 of the management server 5 forms a deposit notification including the deposit balance data of the record and returns it to the sand device 3 (S302), and receives the deposit balance data of the record. 0 is cleared, the contents of this time are added to the history data, and the deposit balance data for the sand device 3 in the sand database 6b is also updated (S303).

  On the other hand, if the deposit balance data in the face data record that matches the received face data is 0, the control unit 30 of the management server 5 uses the sand history data to extract the last sand device. (Hereinafter, this sand device is referred to as 3X) and the drawing time, and based on the stored contents of the sand database 6b for the sand device 3X that was drawn immediately before, the current of the sand device 3X It is determined whether or not the state is possibly illegal (S304).

  The player draws the accumulated balance in the sand device 3X, plays the game, moves to another sand device 3 position while leaving the balance in the sand device 3X without accumulating the balance again, and draws the accumulated drawer. When requested, if there is a possibility that the next player for the previous sand device 3X is diverting the balance left by the previous player, the control unit 30 of the management server 5 Can be recognized. Based on the contents stored in the face database 6a and the sand database 6b, after the withdrawal time in the previous sand device 3X, there is no cash deposit to the previous sand device 3X during the current withdrawal request from the sand device 3 By detecting that there is a deposit balance in the previous sand device 3X, the control unit 30 of the management server 5 can recognize the situation where there is a possibility of fraud.

  When the current state of the sand device 3X that has been pulled out immediately before is a state that may be illegal, the control unit 30 of the management server 5 forms and transmits an unusable notification to the sand device 3X. (S305), to the sand device 3 that is the transmission source of the currently received withdrawal transmission data, a deposit notice including the deposit balance data for the sand device 3X in the sand database 6b is formed and returned to the sand device 3 ( S306), the received balance data in the received face data record is cleared to 0, the current content is added to the history data, and the received balance data for the sand device 3 in the sand database 6b is also updated (S307). The pager terminal carried by the game hall employee in charge of the device 3X is likely to be fraudulent with respect to the sand device 3X. To knowledge (S308).

  It is preferable to include information that allows the control unit 20 of the sand apparatus 3 to distinguish between the deposit notification formed in step S306 and the regular deposit notification in step S302.

  If the deposit balance data is 0 and there is no possibility of fraud with respect to the previous sand device 3X, the control unit 30 of the management server 5 indicates that the accumulated balance is 0 in the currently received withdrawal transmission data. The data is transmitted to the sender sand device 3 (S309).

  If the control unit 30 of the management server 5 determines that no record of face data matching the received face data exists in the face database 6a, the face authentication failure count CNT for the sand device 3 is incremented by one. (S310), it is determined whether or not the number of times CNT has reached the upper limit (for example, 3 times) (S311). If the upper limit has not been reached, the re-reading notification of face data by re-reading is sent to the sand device 3. When the upper limit is reached, an authentication error notification is transmitted to the sand device 3 (S313).

  When receiving the deposit notification from the management server 5, the control unit 20 of the sand device 3 increases the deposit balance data stored therein by the deposit amount, and updates the deposit balance display on the display LCD 16 (S263). Return to the standby state shown in FIG. It should be noted that the receipt of the payment notification in step S306 and the receipt of the payment notification in step S302 may be distinguished from each other by a combination of lighting or blinking of the status display LEDs 12a to 12c.

  When receiving a notification that the balance is 0 from the management server 5, the control unit 20 of the sand device 3 displays that fact on the display LCD 16 and the status display LEDs 12 a to 12 c (S 264), and the standby state of FIG. Return to.

  The control unit 20 of the sand device 3 returns the process to step S250 described above when the management server 5 receives a re-notification of face data by re-imaging.

  When the authentication error notification is given from the management server 5, the control unit 20 of the sand device 3 displays that fact on the display LCD 16 and the status display LEDs 12 a to 12 c (S 265), and returns to the standby state of FIG. 7.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an operation when the sand device 3X receives a notification of unusability.

  Upon receipt of the unusable notification, the control unit 20 of the sand device 3X forcibly clears the deposit balance data stored therein or the displayed deposit balance data to 0 (S350), and the warning lamp 11 Is turned on or blinked to issue a warning (S351). The warning may be given by a buzzer.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of settlement of the deposit balance settlement machine 7. The player can settle cash in the deposit balance accumulated in association with the face data. There is no need to limit the settlement date. However, in the following description, it will be assumed that cash can be settled only on the first day of deposit and accumulation.

  The control unit 40 of the deposit balance settlement machine 7 waits for an operation of the settlement key and the clerk call key, and starts the processing shown in FIG. 15 when the settlement key is operated. The explanation of the operation when operating the staff call key is omitted. The player sits on a chair installed in front of the main body of the deposit balance settlement machine 7 and operates the settlement key.

  When the settlement key is operated and the settlement of the deposit balance is instructed, the control unit 40 of the deposit balance settlement machine 7 uses a combination of lighting or blinking of a status display LED (not shown) (or a display LCD). If there is a message display, the player is notified that the image will be captured soon (S400), and at a predetermined time thereafter, the image is captured by the CCD camera units 47L and 47R (S401).

  Thereafter, the control unit 40 of the deposit balance adjusting machine 7 uses the set reference grayscale data 40a and 40aR for the right imaging signal obtained by the CCD camera unit 47L and the left imaging signal obtained by the CCD camera unit 47R. Then, the density correction is performed (S402), the density-corrected right imaging signal and left imaging signal are converted into face data composed of feature data (S403), and the obtained face data is temporarily buffered (S404).

  The control unit 40 of the deposit balance settlement machine 7 manages the settlement transmission data including at least the data indicating that it is for settlement, the ID of the deposit balance settlement machine 7 and the face data when it acquires the transmission right. 5 (S405), the player is notified of the end of imaging (S406), and an authentication notification reply from the management server 5 is awaited (S407 to S410). Note that the communication of the settlement transmission data may be performed by encrypted communication.

  When receiving the settlement transmission data, the control unit 30 of the management server 5 performs a face data authentication operation as shown in FIG.

  The control unit 30 of the management server 5 checks whether or not a face data record that matches the received face data exists in the face database 6a (S450).

  If it exists, it is determined whether or not the deposit balance data of the record is 0 (S451). If the deposit balance data is other than 0, the control unit 30 of the management server 5 determines whether or not the registration time data of the record is today (S452). If the registration time is today, a positive authentication notification including the deposit balance data of the record is formed and transmitted to the deposit balance settlement machine 7 (S453), and a settlement completion reply from the deposit balance settlement machine 7 is awaited (S454). When the completion of payment is returned, the corresponding record itself in the face database 6a is deleted (S455).

  When the deposit balance data is 0, the control unit 30 of the management server 5 forms a positive authentication notification to that effect and transmits it to the deposit balance settlement machine 7 (S456).

  If the deposit balance data is other than 0 and the registration time is not today, the control unit 30 of the management server 5 forms a positive authentication notification to that effect and sends it to the deposit balance settlement machine 7 (S457).

  In addition, when there is no face data record that matches the received face data in the face database 6a, the control unit 30 of the management server 5 forms a negative authentication notification and transmits it to the deposit balance settlement machine 7 (S458). ).

  When the control unit 40 of the deposit balance settlement machine 7 receives a positive authentication notification including the deposit balance data from the management server 5, the banknote processing unit 42 and the coin processing unit 43 pay out the cash corresponding to the deposit balance (S411). Then, the settlement completion is transmitted to the management server 5 (S412), and then the standby state is restored.

  In addition, when a positive authentication notification that the deposit balance data is 0 is given, the control unit 40 of the deposit balance settlement machine 7 uses a combination of lighting or blinking of a status display LED (not shown) (or a display LCD). If the message is displayed, the fact that the deposit balance data is 0 is notified (the notification time is a predetermined time of about 5 seconds; S413), and then the standby state is restored.

  Further, upon receiving a positive authentication notification that the deposit balance data is other than 0 and the registration time is not today, the control unit 40 of the deposit balance settlement machine 7 uses a combination of lighting or blinking of a status display LED (not shown) (or In the case of having a display LCD, by displaying the message), it is informed that cash settlement other than the registration date cannot be made (the notification time is a predetermined time of about 5 seconds; S414), and then returns to the standby state.

  Furthermore, when receiving the negative authentication notification, the control unit 40 of the deposit balance settlement machine 7 is a combination of lighting or blinking of a status display LED (not shown) (or by displaying the message if it has a display LCD), The fact that the face data could not be authenticated is notified (the notification time is a predetermined time of about 5 seconds; S415), and then the standby state is restored. It should be noted that the face data may be retransmitted at the time of authentication failure even at the time of payment.

  As described above, the payment balance accumulated in association with the face data can be settled on the day when the face data is registered.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the organizing operation of the face database 6a executed by the control unit 30 of the management server 5.

  The control unit 30 of the management server 5 automatically starts the processing shown in FIG. 17 at a predetermined time after business hours (for example, 11:00 pm). If the management server 5 is provided with a man-machine interface such as a numeric keypad or a remote control receiver, the processing shown in FIG. 17 may be started in accordance with instructions from the game hall manager or employees. good.

  When the control unit 30 of the management server 5 starts the process shown in FIG. 17, the first record is set as a process target record (S500), and the first organizing process (S502 and S503) for all the records ends. (S501), it is determined whether or not the deposit balance data of the process target record is 0 (S502). If the receipt balance data of the process target record is 0, the record is deleted (S503), and if the receipt balance data of the process target record is other than 0, the process target record is immediately set to the next record. (S504), it returns to step S501 mentioned above.

  When the first organizing process for all the records ends, the control unit 30 of the management server 5 sets the first record (the first record remaining in the first organizing process) as the processing target record ( S505) After confirming that the second organizing process (S507 and S508) for all records has not been completed (S506), one month (this period) while referring to the registration time data and history data of the record to be processed It is determined whether or not this record has been accessed (S507). If the record to be processed has not been accessed for more than one month, the record is deleted (S508), and if the record to be processed is accessed when it is closer than January, the record to be processed is immediately The subsequent record is set (S509), and the process returns to step S506 described above.

  When the second organizing process for all records ends, the control unit 30 of the management server 5 ends the series of processes shown in FIG.

  As described above, records with a deposit balance of 0 and records with a deposit balance other than 0 but not accessed for more than one month can be organized.

(A-3) Effect of Embodiment According to the above embodiment, a method for storing a deposit balance in the management server in association with face data and retrieving the accumulated deposit balance to the sand device by face authentication is described. It can be applied to amusement halls with poor conditions.

  That is, since the density correction using the reference grayscale data is performed on the image pickup signal, the gaming machine that has taken an image to accumulate the deposit balance in the management server and the accumulated deposit balance are extracted by face authentication. Even if it is different from the gaming machine that picked up the image, the image pickup signal related to the subject can be made similar by the shading correction, and the face authentication can be appropriately executed.

  In the accumulation and retrieval of the deposit balance using the card, the card may be stolen when the player leaves the seat. However, the use of the face data as in the above embodiment does not cause such a problem due to the theft. . Further, in the embodiment, there is no card transport mechanism or the like, and accordingly, the reliability of the sand device can be improved. Furthermore, since the card conveyance configuration, the storage configuration access configuration, and the like can be replaced with a face image capturing configuration, it is possible to expect a simple and inexpensive sand device. In addition, the gaming system can be made cheaper due to the absence of a consumable card.

  In the case of a card, it is difficult for the person who stole the card to prove that he / she has stolen the card. The management server can recognize that the balance has been left in the previous gaming machine when trying to withdraw, and even if another person is playing there, the fraudulent behavior can be proved by historical data. it can.

  In the above embodiment, since the face data is sorted and stored in the face database, the authentication operation when the accumulated deposit balance is taken out can be expedited in this respect. Other systems that use face data for authentication also use authentication methods other than face authentication. For example, authentication is performed using face data after obtaining predetermined data (account data, card ID, etc.) from the card, and the face data on the database side used for collation is uniquely determined. On the other hand, in the case of this embodiment, the range of face data on the database side used for collation cannot be narrowed, and sorting of face data having a reasonable amount of data functions effectively.

(B) Other Embodiments In the description of the above-described embodiment, various modified embodiments have been mentioned.

  In the above-described embodiment, a gaming machine discharge configuration is provided in a gaming machine, and the sand device that instructs the gaming machine to discharge is shown. However, the present invention can be applied to a sand device having a gaming medium discharging configuration.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the regular imaging number when accumulating the deposit balance is shown as one, but the imaging may be executed twice or more. For example, the temporary registration may be performed in the management server at the first time, and the main registration may be performed when the second face data matches the first face data. Even when the accumulated deposit balance is withdrawn, it is possible to execute the imaging twice or more to enhance security.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the comparison between the stored face data of the face database and the read face data indicates that the determination result is either matched or non-matched. An appropriate determination result may be provided. For example, when an intermediate determination result is obtained, the management server makes an alarm sound and displays the stored face data and the read face data side by side on the monitor of the server, thereby allowing the administrator to make a match determination. You may do it.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the sand apparatus performs the conversion from the imaging signal to the face data. However, the management server performs the conversion to the face data by giving the imaging signal to the management server as it is. Also good. In this case, it is possible to reduce the processing load of the sand device. In addition, the island unit controller 4 that relays communication may be provided with a function of converting an imaging signal into face data. In this case, the processing load on the sand device and the management server can be reduced. Further, the imaging signal itself may be used as face data.

  When the image pickup signal is converted into face data by a device other than the sand device as described above, the density correction of the image pickup signal may be performed by the sand device or an apparatus to which the image pickup signal is given.

  In the above embodiment, the accumulated deposit balance is read to lend the ball, and then the remaining deposit balance is allowed to be re-accumulated. good. Furthermore, since re-accumulation is premised, in the above embodiment, the record is not deleted from the face database even if the accumulated balance is read. However, when the accumulated balance is read, the record is deleted from the face database. Anyway. In this case, a record may be created as a new accumulation even at the time of re-accumulation.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, when the deposit balance is accumulated, transmission data including both face data and deposit balance data is transmitted from the sand device to the management server. The balance data may be divided into separate transmission data and transmitted at different timings. In this case, it does not matter which of face data and deposit balance data is transmitted first.

  In the above embodiment, the operation for accumulating the deposit balance is an operation of a refund key, and the balance after a part of the deposited cash is converted into a game medium can be accumulated. In addition to or instead of this, the balance immediately after the deposit, in other words, the deposit balance before being converted into the game medium may be stored in association with the face data. That is, the player can immediately accumulate the deposit balance in association with the face data immediately after depositing the cash, and can withdraw it from the accumulated deposit balance to the sand device.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the withdrawal of the accumulated deposit balance shows that the entire amount is withdrawn. However, the player withdraws a part of the accumulated deposit balance by using the numeric keypad of the sand device. You may be able to.

  In the above embodiment, the balance data is directly exchanged as money data between the sand device and the management server. However, the money data is exchanged in another format, and the deposit balance data is stored in the management server. You may make it let it. For example, when there is a cash deposit, the deposit amount is given to the management server without corresponding to the face data and managed in association with the ID of the sand device. When there is a refund key, the face data and consumption data (game medium) For the first time, the face data may be stored in association with the face data and the deposit balance data obtained by the calculation. Further, the deposit balance data may be left in the face database even when the accumulated deposit balance data is withdrawn, and the consumption data may be given to the management server even during the accumulation. The movement of the “payment balance data” between the apparatuses in the claims includes such an indirect case.

  In the above-described embodiment, the operation guidance, warning, and the like are visually displayed and notified. However, instead of this, the operation guidance, warning, and the like may be notified audibly. Further, the warning notification may be performed using not only a single device such as a sand device or a deposit balance adjusting machine but also a group unit device such as an island unit. For example, you may make it alert | report by the light emission pattern etc. using the light emission structure which each apparatus has.

  In the above-described embodiment, the face data is simply compared at the time of face data collation. However, after one or both face data are subjected to soft zoom processing to match the contours, Verification may be performed. The CCD camera unit may have a zoom function, and the image may be adjusted and adjusted so that the contour in the imaging signal is substantially constant.

  In the above embodiment, the stereo face data is used. However, one face data may be used.

  Further, in the above embodiment, a monochrome CCD camera is used, but a color CCD camera may be used. In this case, reference color tone data may be stored, and the image pickup signal may be corrected so that the background color tone matches the reference color tone data.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, it has been shown that only the face authentication is used for accumulation of the deposit balance and withdrawal of the accumulated deposit balance, but other authentication methods that do not require the carrying of the article are also used. You may make it do. For example, an authentication method by inputting a password or another individual authentication method may be used in combination. When password input is used together, the range of face data to be collated can be narrowed and the collation time can be shortened when the accumulated deposit balance is drawn.

  In the above-described embodiment, the sand device has a function of storing the deposit balance data in the management server in association with the face data, and has a function of withdrawing, but in addition to such a function, the deposit balance data is stored. A sand device having a function of storing in a card or reading from a card may be used as before. In the case of such a sand device, the player can use a numeric keypad or the like to select whether to store the deposit balance data in the management data or to record it on a card and discharge the card.

  In the above embodiment, the polling method is applied as the communication method between the management server and the sand device. However, other methods may be applied. For example, at the time of accumulation, the sand device may request transmission right, and the management server may perform contention arbitration and grant the transmission right to one of the sand devices.

  In the above embodiment, the reference grayscale data is set only when the sand apparatus or the deposit balance adjusting machine is installed. However, the sand apparatus and the deposit balance adjusting machine autonomously (for example, in regular processing) update operation. You may do it. In this case, the same area is checked against the reference grayscale data so far, and the absence of a person or the like is confirmed (for example, the difference from the standard grayscale data so far is a predetermined threshold value or less). Set as standard reference grayscale data.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the game system of embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the sand apparatus of embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the sand apparatus of embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the management server of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the face database of embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the deposit balance adjustment machine of embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the process branch from the standby state of the sand apparatus of embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement at the time of accumulation | storage of the deposit balance of the sand apparatus of embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the light / dark correction operation | movement with respect to the imaging signal of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the function for density correction of embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement at the time of withdrawal of the accumulation | storage balance of the sand apparatus of embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement at the time of accumulation | storage of the deposit balance of the management server of embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement at the time of withdrawal of the accumulation | storage balance of the management server of embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement at the time of reception of the unusable notification of the sand apparatus of embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement at the time of the settlement of the deposit balance settlement machine of embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement at the time of the adjustment of the management server of embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the organization operation | movement of the face database by the management server of embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Game system, 2 ... Game machine, 3 ... Sand apparatus, 5 ... Management server, 6 ... Database, 7 ... Deposit balance adjustment machine.

Claims (8)

Take in cash deposits and discharge a predetermined number of game media according to the lending operation, or instruct the corresponding gaming machine to discharge a predetermined unit number of game media, and specify the received deposit balance A sanding device that reduces by a unit,
An imaging means for imaging a player's face;
Reference data storage means for storing reference data of the density or tone of the background region in the image pickup signal from the image pickup means;
An imaging signal correction unit that corrects the imaging signal so that the density or color tone of the background region in the imaging signal from the imaging unit matches the reference data stored in the reference data storage unit;
Accumulation instruction fetching means for fetching the deposit balance accumulation instruction operation;
When there is an accumulation instruction operation to the accumulation instruction fetch means, the image pickup means picks up the image and the image pickup signal correction means corrects the image pickup signal or compressed data obtained by characteristic compression of the image pickup signal. Accumulation transmission control means for transmitting the face data and the deposit balance data to the management server for accumulation;
A withdrawal instruction fetching means for fetching a withdrawal instruction operation for a deposit balance accumulated in the management server by the accumulation transmission control means;
When there is a drawing instruction operation to the drawing instruction fetching means, the image pickup means picks up an image and the image pickup signal after the image pickup signal correction means corrects, or compressed data obtained by characteristic compression of the image pickup signal And a deposit balance withdrawal control means for transmitting face data to the management server, authenticating the face, and transmitting the accumulated deposit balance data from the management server. A management server for managing the state of each sand device,
A face database associating face data with deposit balance data;
Reference data storage means for storing reference data of the shade or color tone of the background area in the imaging signal transmitted from each sand device,
In order to accumulate the deposit balance, the balance data transmitted from any one of the above sand devices is used as reference data in which the density or color tone of the background area in the transmitted imaging signal is stored in the reference data storage means. A deposit balance registration means for correcting the image pickup signal so as to match, and storing the corrected image pickup signal or the corrected image pickup signal in the face database in association with the face data subjected to feature compression;
In order to withdraw the deposit balance, the imaging signal is adjusted so that the contrast or color tone of the background area in the imaging signal transmitted from any of the sand devices matches the reference data stored in the reference data storage means. The face database is searched on the basis of the corrected imaging signal or the face data obtained by subjecting the corrected imaging signal to feature compression. And a first deposit balance supply means for transmitting the received deposit balance data to the sand device that is the transmission source of the imaging signal.   In order to settle the deposit balance, the imaging signal is corrected so that the contrast or color tone of the background area in the imaging signal transmitted from any deposit balance settlement machine matches the reference data, and the corrected imaging The face database is searched based on the signal or face data obtained by subjecting the corrected imaging signal to feature compression, and when there is matching face data, the deposit balance data associated with the face data is 3. The management server according to claim 2, further comprising a second deposit balance supply means for transmitting to the upper deposit balance settlement machine of the transmission source of the imaging signal. A deposit balance settlement machine that settles a deposit balance that has not been converted to a game medium,
An imaging means for imaging a player's face;
Reference data storage means for storing reference data of the density or tone of the background region in the image pickup signal from the image pickup means;
An imaging signal correction unit that corrects the imaging signal so that the density or color tone of the background region in the imaging signal from the imaging unit matches the reference data stored in the reference data storage unit;
A payment instruction fetching means for fetching a payment balance settlement instruction operation;
When a settlement instruction operation is performed to the settlement instruction fetching unit, the imaging unit captures an image signal that has been captured and corrected by the imaging signal correction unit, or compressed data obtained by characteristic compression of the imaging signal. Payment amount capturing means for transmitting face data to the management server, performing face authentication, and transmitting the accumulated payment balance data from the management server;
A deposit balance settlement machine, comprising: a settlement deposit discharging means for discharging cash corresponding to the deposit balance data transmitted from the management server.   A gaming system comprising: a management server that manages the state of each sand device; and the plurality of sand devices according to claim 1.   The game system according to claim 5, further comprising the deposit balance settlement machine according to claim 4.   A gaming system comprising: a plurality of sand devices that transmit to a management server an image signal that has not been subjected to shading or color tone correction for imaging a player's face; and the management server according to claim 2.   A plurality of sand devices that transmit an image signal for which the player's face has been imaged and a tone or color tone correction has not been performed to the management server, and an image signal that has been imaged for the player's face and has not been corrected for the tone or color tone A game system, comprising: a deposit balance settlement machine that transmits to the management server; and the management server according to claim 3.

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