JP7202109B2 - Game management system - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game management system for managing games in amusement arcades equipped with game machines for playing games using game media.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, amusement arcades provide games through game media. For example, in a pachinko game, game balls are used as game media, and the game is played by hitting the game balls onto the game board surface. A plurality of prize-winning areas (award-winning openings) are provided on the game board surface, and a predetermined number of game balls are provided as prize balls based on the game balls passing through the prize-winning areas. In this way, the number of game media increases or decreases depending on the result of the game, and the player can exchange the obtained game media for prizes.

A gaming machine is generally provided with each machine. Each machine accepts the deposit and lends out the game medium. In addition, each machine manages the number of game media acquired through a game as the number of game media, and performs replay processing to subtract the number of game media and pay out game media (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .).

Here, in order to manage sales in game parlors, etc., a technique is known in which game information is collected from game machines and each machine, and the collected information is managed by a management device called a hall computer. For example, in Patent Document 2, a hall computer receives a hitting signal indicating the number of driven balls and a winning signal indicating the number of winning balls from a gaming machine, and processes the ball-losing signal indicating the number of rented balls by inter-machine card processing. JP-A-2005-100002 discloses a technique of receiving signals from a gaming machine and managing the number of rented balls, the number of driven balls, and the number of winning balls for each machine number based on these signals.

JP 2011-131037 A JP 2010-158297 A

However, since the conventional technology merely manages how much each gaming machine is used, it has been required to analyze the game results. For example, if it is possible to identify how many players have used each machine, and what machines were used by the players and in what order, it would be possible to analyze the trends of the players. can.

In particular, information on people who visited the store but did not use the gaming machine (hereafter referred to as non-gamers) is extremely important for amusement arcades. could not get information about

For these reasons, it has been an important issue how to collect and analyze information on non-gamers who come to the store.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a game management system that can contribute to the collection and analysis of information about non-gamers who visit the store.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides a game management system for managing games in an amusement arcade installed with a game machine for playing games using game media, wherein the amusement arcade has a A visitor image storage means for storing an image of a person who has visited the store as a visitor image, a player image storage means for storing an image of a person who uses the game machine as a player image, and the visitor image and the player. a visitor non-game customer extracting means for extracting, as a visitor non-game customer, a person who has visited the store but has not used the game machine by comparing the image with the image, and a game performance record of the game machine is associated with the game customer image. A game performance management means for managing as game performance information, and a visiting non-game customer who analyzes past game performance of said visiting non-game customer by referring to said gaming performance information with said visiting customer image of said visiting non-game customer. and analysis means .

Further, in the present invention, in the above invention, the non-game customer analysis means compares the past game performance of the non-game customer with the operation status of the gaming machine on the current day, and characterized by estimating the behavior pattern of

Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the non-game customer analysis means presents a gaming machine to be added based on the past game results of the non-game customer.

Further, in the above-described invention, the present invention provides an entrance camera that captures an image of the customer by capturing an image of the vicinity of the entrance of the game parlor, and a device installed in the game machine that performs processing related to the game medium. and a camera for capturing the player image.

According to the present invention, it is possible to contribute to the collection and analysis of information about non-gamers who come to the store.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the concept of the game management system according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the system configuration of the game parlor. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the appearance of an inter-machine card processing machine. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the inter-machine card processing machine shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of data stored in the storage unit of the inter-machine card processing machine. 6 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the face authentication server shown in FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of data stored in a storage unit of the face authentication server; FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of extraction and analysis of visiting non-gamers. FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure of the face authentication server. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the use of the in-store camera.

Preferred embodiments of the game management system according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In this specification, "balls in possession" refers to game media acquired by a player in a game or data indicating the number of such game media, which can be used again in the game only during the day (time before the store closes). Say what you can. Accumulated balls refer to game media acquired by a player in a game or data indicating the number of such game media, which can be used again in a game from the next day onwards (hours after the store closes). Possessed balls can be used by both general players and member players, and are used when the gaming machine used for the game is changed (so-called machine movement). The accumulated balls are normally usable only by the member players, and are used when the obtained game media are used in the game from the next day onwards. A predetermined fee may be charged for use of accumulated balls.

First, the concept of the game management system according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the concept of the game management system according to this embodiment. A plurality of game machines 20 are installed in the game parlor, and each game machine 20 is provided with an inter-machine card processing machine 10 which is a device for each machine.

The inter-machine card processing machine 10 performs game ball lending processing, processing for replaying owned balls and stored balls, and counting processing for counting acquired game balls and adding them to owned balls based on the operation of the player. Perform various processing related to In addition, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 has an imaging function of imaging a person who plays a game by operating its own device or the adjacent gaming machine 20, that is, a player.

Furthermore, an entrance camera 120 is installed at the entrance of the game parlor. The entrance/exit camera 120 captures an image of a person visiting the amusement arcade, that is, a visitor.

The game management system shown in FIG. 1 extracts the face image of the visitor from the result of imaging by the entrance/exit camera 120, and stores it as a visitor image in the visitor image database 114a. Similarly, the game management system extracts the face image of the player from the result of imaging by the inter-machine card processing machine 10, and stores it as a player image in the player image database 114b.

Then, the game management system compares the customer image in the customer image database 114a with the player image in the player image database 114b, and extracts a person who came to the store but did not play a game as a non-game customer. Specifically, the visitor image is read out, the player image database 114b is referred to, and the visitor image for which there is no matching player image is taken as the visitor non-game customer image.

In FIG. 1, face images of persons P1 and P2 are stored as visitor images in the customer image database 114a, and face images of the person P2 are registered as player images in the player image database 114b. In this case, the person P1 is extracted as a visiting non-game customer.

In this way, the game management system captures an image of a person who has visited the amusement parlor by the entrance camera 120 and stores it as a visitor image in the visitor image database 114a. is imaged and stored as a player image in the player image database 114b, and by comparing the visitor image and the player image, non-game customers visiting the store are extracted. can contribute.

Next, the system configuration of the game parlor will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the system configuration of the game parlor. As shown in FIG. 2, the game parlor is provided with a plurality of gaming machines 20 and inter-machine card processors 10 provided corresponding to the respective gaming machines 20 . The inter-machine card processing machine 10 is connected via an island controller 30 to a communication line, which is a network within the store. An island controller 30, a card management device 40, a member management device 50, a prize management device 60, and a payment machine 80 are connected to the communication line.

Furthermore, a router 140 is connected to the communication line, and the hall computer 90 and the face authentication server 110 are connected to the communication line via the router 140 . The hall computer 90 is connected to each gaming machine 20 via a communication line. The face authentication server 110 is connected to one or a plurality of entrance cameras 120 and a plurality of inter-machine card processors 10 . A face authentication controller 130 intervenes in the connection between the face authentication server 110 and the inter-machine card processing machine 10 .

The game machine 20 is a device for playing a game by hitting game balls onto a game board. A plurality of winning areas (award winning openings) are provided on the game board surface of the gaming machine 20, and a predetermined number of game balls are awarded as prize balls based on the game balls passing through the winning areas. It's becoming A predetermined number of starting areas (starting openings) are provided on the game board surface, and a predetermined lottery is conducted based on the passage of game balls through the starting areas. If the lottery results in a big hit, an operation that is advantageous in terms of the game is performed by operating a predetermined movable member, etc., such as improving the probability of the game ball passing through the winning area or another starting area. The result of the lottery by the ball passing through the starting port is displayed on a special pattern display device for displaying the lottery result. The display of the lottery results on the special symbol display device is performed in a manner in which a fixed display is performed after a predetermined period of variable display. In addition, the game board is provided with a decorative pattern display device that variably displays decorative patterns such as predetermined numbers based on the result of the lottery. , 7) and the like are displayed to notify the user. It should be noted that it is also possible to provide an area that serves as both the starting area and the winning area.

The winning area is provided with a winning sensor for detecting the passage of game balls into the winning area. It's becoming The control unit of the gaming machine 20 also has a prize memory that stores the number of game balls to be awarded as prizes for each prize area.

Therefore, when the winning sensor detects that the hit game balls have passed through the specific winning area, the gaming machine 20 determines from the stored contents of the winning ball memory and the number of game balls that have passed through the winning area. It is possible to determine the number of prize balls and perform payout processing for the determined number of prize balls. Moreover, regardless of whether or not the hit game balls have passed through the winning area, the game balls are finally discharged from the back side of the game board to the outside of the game machine. The game balls discharged to the outside of the gaming machine are detected by an out ball detection device attached to each gaming machine.

The gaming machine 20 also includes an external output unit that outputs a signal for managing the operating state of the gaming machine 20 to the hall computer 90 or the like. From the external output section, a safe pulse is transmitted to the hall computer 90 each time a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out. Furthermore, when a special state such as a big win occurs due to a game in the gaming machine 20, a prize pulse indicating the occurrence of such a state is transmitted to the hall computer 90 from the external output section. Further, in the game machine 20, when the variable display of the special symbol display device is started based on the result of the lottery by the ball passing through the starting port, the start pulse indicating the start of the variable display is output from the external output section to the hall computer. 90. Further, an out-ball detector transmits an out-pulse indicating the number of balls hit into the game machine 20 (the number of balls ejected from the game board surface) to the hall computer 90 .

The inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives payment, lends out game balls, and communicates with the card management device 40 . When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts the banknotes inserted by the player, it transmits payment notification data including the amount of the banknotes to the card management device 40, and stores the amount in the prepaid value managed by the card management device 40. Add the number corresponding to When a predetermined ball lending operation is performed, a ball lending request is transmitted to the card management device 40, the prepaid value managed by the card management device 40 is subtracted, and the number of games corresponding to the subtracted prepaid value is played. Payout processing of balls is performed.

Further, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 transmits card insertion notification data to the card management device 40 when the insertion of the card is accepted. Further, when the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives data including the prepaid value, the number of owned balls, and the number of accumulated balls from the card management device 40, it stores the received prepaid value, the number of owned balls, and the number of accumulated balls. After storing the number of balls held, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 transmits the ball possession subtraction request data to the card management device 40, thereby setting the number of balls managed by the card management device 40 to zero. clear.

In addition, when the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts the replay operation of the owned balls, it subtracts a predetermined number from the number of owned balls stored in its own device, and pays out a number of game balls corresponding to the subtracted number of owned balls. conduct. Further, when the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives a stored ball replay operation, it transmits stored ball replay request data to the member management apparatus 50 via the card management apparatus 40, thereby increasing the number of stored balls managed by the member management apparatus 50. A predetermined number is subtracted from the number of stored balls, and the payout process of the number of game balls corresponding to the subtracted stored number of balls is performed.

Further, when receiving the card return operation, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 transmits to the card management device 40 ball-in-hand addition request data including the number of balls-in-hand managed by itself, After adding the number, the card ejection notification data is transmitted to the card management device 40 to control card ejection.

The island controller 30 is a relay device for bundling a group of gaming machines 20 and inter-machine card processing machines 10 provided on a game island.

The card management device 40 is a device that manages the prepaid value of the card, the number of balls held, etc. as card data. Upon receiving the card insertion notification data from the inter-machine card processor 10, the card management device 40 associates the card ID of the inserted card with the device ID of the inter-machine card processor 10 and manages the card ID. to the inter-machine card processing machine 10. Further, when the card ID indicated in the card insertion notification data is the card ID of the membership card, the card management device 40 transmits the card insertion notification data to the membership management device 50 and receives the card insertion notification data from the membership management device 50. The accumulated ball replay data is transmitted to the inter-machine card processing machine 10.例文帳に追加

Further, when the card management device 40 receives the ball-on-hand subtraction request data from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, it clears the number of balls-on-hand to zero. Further, when the card management device 40 receives the ball-in-hand addition request data from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the number of balls-in-hand included in the ball-in-hand addition request data is changed to the number of balls-in-hand managed by the card management device 40. to add.

Further, when the card management device 40 receives the ball lending request data from the inter-machine card processor 10, the card management device 40 subtracts a predetermined value from the prepaid value associated with the card ID, and transfers the ball lending permission data to the inter-machine card processor 10. Send to When the accumulated ball replay request data is received, the accumulated ball replay request data is transmitted to the member management device 50, and when the member management device 50 outputs the accumulated ball replay data, the accumulated ball replay data is sent to the machine. Send to card processing machine 10 .

Further, when the card ID is received from the prize management device 60, the card management device 40 notifies the prize management device 60 of the number of balls associated with the card ID. Furthermore, when the card ID is received from the payment machine 80, the payment machine 80 is notified of the prepaid value associated with this card ID.

The member management device 50 is a management device that manages member management data of members registered as members of the amusement arcade. Specifically, the number of stored balls, the number of points, the personal identification number, the name, etc. are managed in association with the membership card ID issued to the member.

When the member management device 50 receives the card insertion notification data from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the member management device 50 generates accumulated ball replay data including the number of accumulated balls and a password associated with the card ID indicated in the card insertion notification data. It is transmitted to the interim card processing machine 10 . When the member management device 50 receives the accumulated ball replay request data from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the member management device 50 subtracts a predetermined number from the number of accumulated balls associated with the card ID indicated in the accumulated ball replay request data, Collected ball replay data including the number of accumulated balls after subtraction is transmitted to the inter-machine card processing machine 10.例文帳に追加Communication between the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and the member management device 50 is performed via the card management device 40 .

Further, when the member management device 50 receives an inquiry about the number of stored balls from the prize management device 60, the member management device 50 notifies the prize management device 60 of the number of stored balls corresponding to the designated card ID.

The prize management device 60 is a prize exchange terminal installed at a prize exchange counter in the amusement arcade, and performs prize exchange processing for exchanging acquired balls, the number of stored balls, and the number of owned balls for prizes. A card reader for reading a card ID from a card and a prize payout device for paying out prizes are connected to the prize management device 60 . When the prize management device 60 reads a card ID from a general card or a membership card (or reads identification data corresponding to the card ID from a mobile terminal or the like), the prize management device 60 transmits the card ID to the card management device 40. to request the number of balls possessed by the card ID. When exchanging the number of accumulated balls for a prize, the number of accumulated balls is requested from the member management device 50 . The prize management device 60 does not request the number of accumulated balls to the member management device 50, but the membership management device 50 receives notification of the card ID from the prize management device 60, and returns the number of accumulated balls (and PIN) as a prize. It may be configured to notify the management device 60 .

When the card associated with the prepaid value is inserted, the fare adjustment machine 80 transmits the card ID of this card to the card management device 40 and receives the response data to acquire the prepaid value associated with the card. and pays out money according to the acquired prepaid value. Then, the settlement machine 80 initializes the prepaid value of the inserted card.

The hall computer 90 manages the operation history of the gaming machine 20 by receiving and accumulating outpulses, safe pulses, and prize pulses from each gaming machine 20 . The hall computer 90 manages the state of each gaming machine 20 (“special prize in progress”, “empty table”, “playing”, etc.), and displays the state of each gaming machine on a screen displaying a map of the inside of the hall. can also The hall computer 90 also stores the date and time when each gaming machine 20 was in operation as the operating status.

The entrance/exit camera 120 captures an image of the entrance/exit of the amusement arcade and transmits the imaged result to the face authentication server 110 . Therefore, a person visiting the amusement arcade is imaged by the entrance camera 120 and the image is transmitted to the face authentication server 110 .

In addition, the inter-stand card processing machine 10 takes an image of the player and transmits the imaged result to the face authentication server 110 via the face authentication controller. The imaging by the inter-machine card processing machine 10 may be performed continuously, or may be performed at the timing when the start of the game or the change of players is detected. Specifically, it is preferable to take an image at the timing when an event such as payment, card insertion, or card ejection occurs. As an example, the inter-stand card processing machine 10 continuously transmits imaging results to the face authentication controller 130 and notifies the occurrence of events such as payment, card insertion, and card ejection, and the face authentication controller 130 continuously Images before and after the event may be cut out from such imaging results and transmitted to the face authentication server 110 .

The face authentication server 110 generates a customer image from the imaging result of the entrance/exit camera 120 and stores it in a customer image database 114a, generates a player image from the imaging result of the inter-machine card processing machine 10, and stores it in the player image database. 114b, and by comparing the customer image and the player image, the non-game customers are extracted and the non-game customers are analyzed. Details of the face authentication server 110 will be described later.

Next, the ball lending process of the gaming system shown in FIG. 2 will be described. When a player performs a ball lending operation to the inter-machine card processor 10, the inter-machine card processor 10 transmits ball lending request data to the card management device 40. - 特許庁This ball lending request data includes the card ID of the card inserted in the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and an address or arbitrary identification data for specifying the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that is the sender.

Upon receiving the ball lending request data, the card management device 40 subtracts a predetermined value from the prepaid value associated with the card ID of the ball lending request data. Then, the card management device 40 transmits ball lending permission data to the inter-machine card processing machine 10 as the transmission source. The inter-machine card processing machine 10 that has received the ball lending permission data performs payout processing of the number of game balls corresponding to the subtracted prepaid value.

Next, a description will be given of the ball replay process when the ball is replayed in the gaming system shown in FIG. The inter-machine card processing machine 10 transmits card insertion notification data to the card management device 40 when the insertion of a general card or a membership card is accepted. This card insertion notification data consists of the card ID of the card inserted in the inter-machine card processor 10, the address or arbitrary identification data specifying the inter-machine card processor 10 that is the sender, and the inter-machine card processor. and data to specify the 10 rates.

When the card management device 40 receives the card insertion notification data from the inter-machine card processor 10, the card management device 40 sends the inter-machine card processor 10 the number of balls at each rate associated with the card ID in the card insertion notification data. Notice.

The inter-machine card processing machine 10 stores the number of balls received from the card management device 40 . Then, it transmits to the card management device 40 the card ID, the data specifying the rate, and the ball-on-hand subtraction request data indicating that the number of balls on hand is to be cleared to zero. When the card management device 40 receives the ball-on-hand subtraction request data, the card management device 40 clears the number of balls on the designated card ID and rate to zero. Further, when the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts the replay operation of the balls and replays the balls, the card processing machine 10 subtracts a predetermined number from the stored number of the balls and performs payout processing of the corresponding number of the game balls. . When the payout process is performed, multiples of a unit (for example, 25 balls) that can be paid out by the gaming machine are paid out by transmitting a payout instruction to the gaming machine, and the rest are paid out from the nozzle unit 18a of the own machine. By doing so, the payout process is performed.

The inter-machine card processing machine 10 transmits ball-in-hand addition request data to the card management device 40 when the card return operation is accepted. This ball-in-hand addition request data includes the card ID of the card to be returned, an address or arbitrary identification data specifying the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that is the sender, and the number of balls in own rate. .

When receiving the ball-in-hand addition request data, the card management device 40 adds the number of balls-in-hand contained in the ball-in-hand addition request data to the number of balls-in-hand of the specified card ID and rate. Thereafter, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 transmits card discharge notification data to the card management device 40 and controls card discharge.

Next, the stored ball replay processing in the gaming system shown in FIG. 2 will be described. The inter-machine card processing machine 10 transmits card insertion notification data to the card management device 40 when the card ID is read from the member card or the mobile terminal that can be used as the member card. This card insertion notification data consists of the card ID of the card inserted in the inter-machine card processor 10, the address or arbitrary identification data specifying the inter-machine card processor 10 that is the sender, and the inter-machine card processor. and data to specify the 10 rates.

The card management device 40 transmits the card insertion notification data received from the inter-machine card processing machine 10 to the member management device 50 . When the member management device 50 receives the card insertion notification data, the personal identification number associated with the card ID in the card insertion notification data and the number of accumulated balls at the rate specified by the card insertion notification data. Then, stored ball replay data including the number of possible replays of stored balls is transmitted to the inter-machine card processing machine 10. - 特許庁The number of replayable stored balls indicates the number of stored balls that can be replayed. The possible number of replays of stored balls is a multiple of the number of payout units of game balls in the replay of stored balls. If an upper limit is set for the number of accumulated balls to be replayed, the maximum value within the range between the number of accumulated balls and the upper limit is the possible number of replays of the accumulated balls. Instead of the possible number of replays of the stored balls, the number of times the stored balls can be replayed may be used as the replay frequency of the stored balls. The replay frequency of accumulated balls corresponds to the quotient obtained by dividing the number of accumulated balls by the number of payout units of game balls in the replay of accumulated balls. However, when an upper limit is set for the replay of accumulated balls, the number of replays of accumulated balls is limited by this upper limit.

The inter-machine card processing machine 10 stores the received ball replay data, and makes it possible to accept the accumulated ball replay operation when the number of possible ball replays indicated in the accumulated ball replay data is 1 or more.

After storing the accumulated ball replay data, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 requests the player to enter a personal identification number when receiving the accumulated ball replay operation for the first time. It is determined whether or not it matches the personal identification number shown in .

The inter-machine card processing machine 10 transmits accumulated ball replay request data to the card management device 40 when the personal identification numbers match. This stored ball replay request data includes the card ID of the card inserted in the inter-machine card processor 10, the address or arbitrary identification data specifying the inter-machine card processor 10 that is the sender, and the inter-machine card processing data. data for specifying the rate of aircraft 10;

The card management device 40 transmits accumulated ball replay request data to the member management device 50 . Upon receiving the accumulated ball replay request data, the member management device 50 subtracts a predetermined value from the balance of the accumulated balls at the rate specified by the electronic message among the accumulated balls associated with the card ID in the accumulated ball replay request data. and recalculate the number of possible replays of accumulated balls. Then, stored ball replay data including the balance after the subtraction and the possible number of stored ball replays are transmitted to the inter-machine card processing machine 10 .

The inter-machine card processing machine 10 updates the number of stored balls to be stored, and performs payout processing for the number of game balls corresponding to the number of payout units for replaying the stored balls. Also, it is determined whether or not the number of possible replays of accumulated balls after updating is 1 or more. If the number of possible replays of accumulated balls is 0, the operation of replaying accumulated balls is not accepted. If the number of possible replays of accumulated balls after updating is 1 or more, the operation of replaying accumulated balls can be accepted again. In the second and subsequent replays of the accumulated balls, confirmation of the personal identification number is unnecessary. In addition, you may make it confirm a personal identification number every time. Further, here, the case where the inter-machine card processing machine 10 performs the game ball payout process after the member management device 50 subtracts the balance of the accumulated balls has been exemplified, but the game ball payout process is performed based on the accumulated ball replay request. After doing so, the balance of the accumulated balls may be subtracted. This is because the stored ball replay data before the stored ball replay request indicates the possible number of stored ball replays, and the shortage of the balance will not be found after receiving the stored ball replay request.

Next, a description will be given of the transition from ball possession to ball storage in the closing process. The card management device 40 checks the number of balls in the card management data at the time of the closing process, and if there is a record associated with the number of balls greater than zero, the number of balls in the record is displayed together with the card ID and rate. The member management device 50 is notified. The member management device 50 adds the number of owned balls notified from the card management device 40 to the number of stored balls specified by the card ID and the rate. After that, the card management device 40 clears the number of possessed balls to zero.

Next, the appearance of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the appearance of the inter-machine card processing machine 10. As shown in FIG. Note that FIG. 3 shows the appearance of the inter-machine card processor 10 connected to the gaming machine 20 as the inter-machine card processor 10 . Also, the gaming machine 20 installed side by side is illustrated with a dashed line. In addition, although FIG. 3 illustrates the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that accepts only banknotes, a unit having a function of accepting electronic money or coins associated with a mobile terminal or card can also be provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 has a state display section 11, a bill insertion slot 12a, a display operation section 13, a card insertion slot 14a, a holding section 14b, a camera 19, a nozzle unit 18a and a counting unit 18b. .

The status display unit 11 is composed of, for example, multicolor LEDs, and displays the status of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 by lighting or blinking in a predetermined color. The banknote insertion slot 12a is an insertion slot for various banknotes necessary for lending game balls. The display/operation unit 13 is configured by, for example, a full-color touch-panel liquid crystal display or the like, and is a device that displays operation buttons and receives input operations using the operation buttons. Although detailed illustration is omitted in FIG. 3, the display operation unit 13 has a flat plate shape with a long side on the side of the corresponding game machine 20 that is pivotally supported by the inter-machine card processing machine 10. The configuration is such that the angle formed by the front panel of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and the display surface of the display/operation unit 13 can be changed.

The card insertion slot 14a is an insertion slot for a card owned by a player. The holding portion 14b is a portion where the mobile terminal used for member registration is held up. When the mobile terminal is held over the holding portion 14b, data such as the unique ID (for example, IDm) of the mobile terminal is read from the mobile terminal. The nozzle unit 18 a is a mechanism for ejecting game balls to the gaming machine 20 . The nozzle unit 18a is composed of a cylindrical nozzle that is horizontally rotatable on the front surface of the inter-machine card processing machine 10, and the tip of the nozzle can be positioned in the storage section of the game machine. there is A game medium is supplied to the nozzles from a ball supply device in the inter-stand card processing machine that receives game media from a replenishment mechanism on the island where the inter-stand card processing machine 10 is installed. The counting unit 18b is a mechanism for counting game balls dropped from the lower tray of the gaming machine 20. As shown in FIG. The counting unit 18b includes a receiving tray for receiving game balls, a counting section provided in the lower part of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 for counting the game balls with a counting sensor, and a counting section for passing game media from the receiving tray to the counting section. It consists of a passage part. The receiving tray and the counting passage can be integrally removed from the inter-machine card processing machine 10 based on a predetermined operation (for example, an employee's remote control operation). Further, the counting section has a unit structure, and by removing the counting section, the tray section, and the counting passage section, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 can be operated without the counting function.

The camera 19 is an image capturing unit that captures an image of a player who operates the inter-machine card processing machine 10 or the adjacent game machine 20 to play a game, that is, a player.

Next, the configuration of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4 , the inter-machine card processing machine 10 includes a banknote transport unit 12 , a display operation unit 13 , a reader/writer 14 , a holding unit 14 b , a communication unit 15 , a storage unit 16 , and a control unit 17 . , a nozzle unit 18 a , a counting unit 18 b and a camera 19 .

The banknote transport unit 12 is a transport unit that determines the denomination and authenticity of a banknote inserted from the banknote insertion slot 12a and transports the banknote to a banknote storage unit (not shown). The display operation unit 13 has a function of specifying and displaying various information such as the prepaid value that can be used for ball lending, the number of balls held, the number of stored balls, etc. from the accepted card etc., and displays other information not related to the card etc. It is an input/output device such as a touch panel type liquid crystal display having a function and a function of accepting various operations such as a ball lending operation. In addition to the display described above, the display/operation unit 13 also has a function of displaying excess/deficiency of the number of stored cards and a communication status (online/offline, etc.) with the host device.

The reader/writer 14 is a device for reading a card ID from a card inserted into the card slot 14a. A card inserted into the card insertion slot 14a passes through the reader/writer 14 and is stored in a card storage section (not shown). The holding unit 14b is an interface unit that reads various information such as a unique ID (for example, IDm) of the mobile terminal through short-range wireless communication when the mobile terminal or the like is held up. In addition, the reader/writer 14 has a function of associating value data such as balls and prepaid value shown in the card data 16b with the card stored in the card storage unit in response to the player's returning operation, and issuing a new card. also have However, if the prepaid value shown in the card data 16b is 0 and the number of balls held is less than a certain number (minimum number of held balls), the card is controlled not to be returned even if there is a return operation. This is a control to prevent the loss of the amusement arcade due to the discarding of cards associated with a small number of balls. The same applies to cards (excluding membership cards). As the fixed number, for example, it is possible to set the value obtained by multiplying the number of balls in possession by the rental unit price per ball to be the value of the card or the lowest price prize in the amusement arcade, but this is not limitative. It can be freely set according to the policy of the store. In addition, when controlling so as not to return the card even if there is a return operation, it is possible to process the payout of the stored ball, but display that the card cannot be returned and/or replay the ball. A prompt may be displayed.

The communication unit 15 is an interface unit for performing data communication between the gaming machine 20 and the island controller 30 . The nozzle unit 18a is used to pay out some or all of the game balls when the game balls are paid out by ball lending or replay. The counting unit 18b is a unit that counts game balls.

The storage unit 16 is a storage device such as a hard disk device or a non-volatile memory. The storage unit 16 stores self-device status data 16a and card data 16b.

The own device state data 16a is data indicating the state of the inter-machine card processing machine 10. FIG. The device status data 16a includes the device ID of the inter-machine card processing machine and the game type setting. The device ID of the inter-machine card processor is identification data for uniquely identifying the inter-machine card processor 10 within the amusement arcade. The game type setting is data indicating the game type or the like set in the inter-machine card processing machine 10 . When handling game balls with multiple rates in the amusement arcade, "Ball 1" for game balls with a rate of 4 yen, "Ball 2" for game balls with a rate of 2 yen, and "Ball 3" for game balls with a rate of 1 yen. In this way, a game type name is set and managed for each rate. The inter-machine card processing machine 10 selects a rate to be used for a game from these game types and stores it as a game type setting.

The card data 16b is data relating to the card being used by the player. The card data 16b includes a card ID, a prepaid value, owned balls, accumulated balls, the number of accumulated balls that can be replayed, and the like. There is data for each game type (rate) for the balls held and stored. The card ID is the card ID read by the reader/writer 14 . When a card is transported from a card storage unit (not shown) to the card insertion slot 14a and ejected, the card data 16b is updated by the card ID read by the reader/writer 14 during transport. Also, when the card is conveyed from the card insertion slot 14a to a card storage section (not shown), the card data 16b is updated by the card ID read by the reader/writer 14 during this conveyance.

The control unit 17 is a control unit that controls the entire inter-machine card processing machine 10, and has a data management unit 17a, a counting processing unit 17b, and an imaging processing unit 17c.

When the card is inserted, the data management unit 17a transmits card insertion notification data including the device ID of the own device status data 16a and the card ID of the card data 16b to the card management device 40. FIG. Further, when the data management unit 17a receives data including value data (at least one of the prepaid value, the number of balls held, and the number of stored balls) from the card management device 40, the data management unit 17a updates the card data 16b with the received value data. . The data management unit 17a appropriately controls the display operation unit 13 to display the prepaid value, the number of owned balls, and the number of stored balls indicated in the card data 16b.

Further, when a banknote is inserted into the banknote insertion slot 12a, the data management unit 17a transmits payment notification data including the amount of the inserted banknote, the card ID, and the inter-machine card processing machine ID to the card management device 40 .

Further, the data management unit 17a transmits ball lending request data including the card ID and the device ID to the card management device 40 when the player performs the ball lending operation. When ball lending permission data is received as a response to the ball lending request data, the data management unit 17a performs payout processing of a predetermined number of game balls.

Further, when the player replays the balls held, the data management unit 17a subtracts a predetermined number from the number of balls held indicated in the card data 16b, and performs payout processing of the corresponding number of game balls. conduct.

Further, when the possible number of accumulated balls replay indicated in the card data 16b is 1 or more, the data management unit 17a displays a accumulated balls replay button on the display operation unit 13, and can accept the accumulated balls replay operation. and The data management unit 17a transmits accumulated ball replay request data including the card ID and the inter-machine card processing machine ID to the member management device 50 when the player performs the accumulated ball replay operation. When the accumulated ball replay data is received as a response to the accumulated ball replay request data, the number of accumulated balls in the card data 16b is updated, and the game ball payout process of the payout unit number of the accumulated ball replay is performed. At the time of the first accumulated ball replay operation, the input of the personal identification number is requested, and the accumulated ball replay request data is transmitted on the condition that the personal identification number matches the personal identification number indicated in the card data 16b.

Further, when the player performs a card return operation, the data management unit 17a transmits to the card management device 40 ball-in-hand addition request data including the card ID, the device ID, and the number of balls-in-hand, and collects the card data 16b. is cleared to zero, card discharge notification data is transmitted to the card management device 40, and the card is discharged.

In addition, the data management unit 17a subtracts the number of owned balls shown in the card data 16b when the player performs the operation to transfer stored balls while the member card is inserted, and the data management unit 17a By transmitting the accumulated ball addition request data to the management device 50, the owned balls are transferred to the accumulated balls. It is also possible to transfer accumulated balls using a portable terminal instead of using a membership card. Specifically, if the number of balls held is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, and the mobile terminal is held over the holding unit 14b after a predetermined operation is performed, the data management unit 17a displays the number of balls shown in the card data 16b. By subtracting the number and transmitting the stored ball addition request data including the IDm read by the holding unit 14b, the owned balls are transferred to the stored balls.

The data management unit 17a can also perform processing related to the wagon service. The wagon service is a service in which a game clerk puts goods such as drinks and cigarettes in a wagon and goes around the amusement arcade to sell them to players who are playing games. In this wagon service, it is possible to pay with cash or the like, as well as with balls held or saved. When paying for the wagon service with balls or stored balls, a game clerk can issue an instruction to the inter-stand card processor 10 through a clerk terminal (for example, a remote control terminal), and the inter-stand card processor 10 can be used to settle the wagon service. state. Then, information capable of specifying the number of owned balls and stored balls to be subtracted as consideration is input to the inter-machine card processing machine 10 . This input processing is performed by inputting numerical values through the display/operation unit 13 of the inter-machine card processing machine or the operation unit of the clerk's terminal. When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives the input, it waits for an employee recording medium (for example, a wagon card) to be used for the wagon service. When the wagon card is accepted, the data management unit 17a subtracts the input number of balls and stored balls from the number indicated by the card data 16b, and discharges it in association with the employee recording medium. In addition, when the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives an employee recording medium without receiving an input of information that can specify the number of held balls or stored balls to be subtracted as consideration, settlement of the wagon service is performed. A process of returning the employee recording medium is performed without doing so. In addition, when accepting input of information that can specify the number of balls and accumulated balls to be subtracted as consideration during payment for the wagon service, the operation of replaying the held balls and accumulated balls and the operation of returning the recording medium are accepted. In that case, conflict between the two processes is suppressed by restricting the replay operation/return operation by rejecting it, or by canceling the settlement of the wagon service.

When game balls are thrown into the counting unit 18b, the counting processing unit 17b causes the counting unit 18b to count the game balls, and performs a process of adding the counting result to the number of balls in the card data 16b.

The imaging processing unit 17 c performs processing related to imaging by the camera 19 . For example, if the camera 19 continuously captures images during business hours of the amusement arcade, the imaging processing unit 17c transmits the imaging result of the camera 19 to the face authentication controller 130 as needed. Also, when an event (payment, card insertion, card ejection, etc.) indicating the start of a game or the change of players is detected, the occurrence of the event is notified to the face authentication controller 130 .

As another operation example, the imaging processing unit 17c causes the camera 19 to perform imaging for a predetermined period of time when an event indicating the start of a game or the change of players is detected, and transmits the imaging result to the face authentication controller 130. may be

Next, an example of data stored in the storage unit 16 of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 will be described. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of data stored in the storage unit 16 of the inter-machine card processing machine 10. As shown in FIG.

The own device state data 16a shown in FIG. 5(a) indicates a state in which the ID of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 is "3001" and "ball 1" is set as the game type of the inter-machine card processing machine 10. ing.

The card data 16b shown in FIG. 5(b) indicates that the ID of the card inserted in the inter-machine card processing machine 10 is "1001". Here, the first digit of the card ID indicates the type of card, a card with the first digit "1" is a general card, and a card with the first digit "2" is a membership card. Also, the card data 16b indicates a state where the prepaid value is "2000 points". Here, one degree of the prepaid value is equivalent to 1 yen. Further, the card data 16b indicates that the number of balls held by ball 1 is "375 balls", the number of balls held by ball 2 is "500 balls", and the number of balls held by ball 3 is "2000 balls". showing.

The card data 16b can store a personal identification number, the number of replayable accumulated balls, and the number of accumulated balls of each game type as data related to accumulated balls. Therefore, these data are marked with "-" to indicate not applicable. Although the number of replayable balls is stored as the replayable number here, the number of replayable balls may be stored as the replay frequency. Although not shown, the card management device 40 also stores ON/OFF of a "lock" flag indicating validity/invalidity of the card in addition to the balls held, stored balls, and prepaid value in association with the card ID. , is turned ON by an employee's operation when the theft of the card is detected. These data are also included in the card data 16b and stored. Furthermore, this "lock" flag can be set for each function ("use of accumulated balls", "boarding", etc.). , can also be used to prevent erroneous operations. In this specification, the term "entering" means converting the number of game media at a certain rate into the number of game media at another rate based on the ratio of the unit price of the game media. In a specific example, in the inter-machine card processing machine 10 associated with the 4-yen rate, using the number of balls X of the 1-yen rate, the number of balls X×(1-yen/4-yen)=X/4 can be exemplified. This "boarding" function can be enabled/disabled by the member management device 50 according to the management policy of the store.

Next, the configuration of the face authentication server 110 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of face authentication server 110 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the face authentication server 110 has a display unit 111, an input unit 112, a communication unit 113, a storage unit 114, and a control unit 115.

The display unit 111 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display device. The input unit 112 is an input device such as a keyboard and mouse. A communication unit 113 is an interface for data communication with another device. Specifically, the communication unit 113 receives the imaging result including the image of the customer from the entrance/exit camera 120 . In addition, the communication unit 113 receives imaging results including the image of the player from the inter-machine card processing machine 10 via the face authentication controller 130 . Also, the communication unit 113 can communicate with the hall computer 90 , the card management device 40 , the member management device 50 and the like via the router 140 .

The storage unit 114 is a storage device such as a hard disk device or a non-volatile memory, and stores a customer image database 114a, a player image database 114b, and visiting non-game customer data 114c.

The customer image database 114a associates and accumulates the face images of customers extracted from the imaging result of the entrance/exit camera 120 with the date and time. The player image database 114b associates and accumulates face images of players extracted from the imaging results of the inter-machine card processing machine 10, dates and times, and gaming machines used. The visiting non-game customer data 114c is data in which the face image of the visiting non-game customer is associated with the date and time. Also, the visiting non-game customer data 114c can be associated with the non-game customer's preference of gaming machines and behavior patterns.

The control unit 115 is a control unit that controls the entire face authentication server 110, and includes a visitor image processing unit 115a, a player image processing unit 115b, a game performance management unit 115c, a visitor non-game customer extraction unit 115d, and a visitor non-game customer extraction unit 115d. It has a customer analysis unit 115e. In practice, programs corresponding to these functional units are stored in a ROM or non-volatile memory (not shown), and these programs are loaded into a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and executed to create a customer image processing unit. 115a, the player image processing unit 115b, the game result management unit 115c, the visitor non-game customer extraction unit 115d, and the visitor non-game customer analysis unit 115e are caused to execute corresponding processes.

The visitor image processing unit 115a performs a process of extracting the face image of the visitor from the result of imaging by the entrance/exit camera 120, and registering it in the visitor image database 114a in association with the date and time of visit.

The player image processing unit 115b performs a process of extracting a player's face image from the result of imaging by the inter-machine card processing machine 10, associating it with the imaging date and time, and registering it in the player image database 114b.

The game performance management unit 115c is a processing unit that associates the game performance of the gaming machine with the player image and manages it as game performance information. Specifically, the game performance management unit 115c identifies the gaming machine used by the player, associates it with the player's face image, and registers it in the player image database 114b. The gaming machine used by the player specifies the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that captured the image of the player, and inquires of the card management device 40 or the like about the gaming machine attached to the inter-machine card processing machine 10. Identifiable. In addition, when specifying a gaming machine, it is preferable to use information such as model and game performance that serves as an index when a player selects a gaming machine.

The visitor non-game customer extraction unit 115d is a processing unit that compares the visitor image of the visitor image database 114a and the player image database 114b, and extracts a person who came to the store but did not play a game as a visitor non-game customer. . Specifically, the visitor image is read out, the player image database 114b is referred to, and the visitor image for which there is no matching player image is taken as the visitor non-game customer image. Then, the image of the visiting non-game customer is associated with the visiting date and time, and registered in the visiting non-game customer data 114c.

The visiting non-game customer analysis unit 115e is a processing unit that analyzes the past game achievements of visiting non-game customers by referring to the game achievements of the player image database 114b using the visiting customer images of the visiting non-game customers. For example, even if a certain person did not play a game on that day and became a visiting player, if he or she played a game in the past and is registered as a player in the player image database 114b, what kind of person can be considered based on the game results? It is possible to specify whether there is a track record of using the gaming machine. Furthermore, if the game frequency for each game machine model and game performance is obtained from the game record of the person, it is possible to determine what kind of game machine the person prefers. The visiting non-game customer analysis unit 115e registers the determined preference of the gaming machine in the visiting non-game customer data 114c.

In addition, the visiting non-game customer analysis unit 115e estimates the behavior pattern of the visiting non-game customer by comparing the past game record of the visiting non-game customer with the operation status of the gaming machine on the day. The operating status of the gaming machine on the day can be acquired from the hall computer 90. - 特許庁For example, when a certain person does not play a game on the day and becomes a non-gamer, all the gaming machines that the person likes are in operation at the time that person comes to the store, that is, the favorite gaming machine is not available. If so, it is estimated that the behavior pattern of the person is "if the favorite gaming machine is not available, go home without playing the game". The visiting non-game customer analysis unit 115e registers the estimated behavior pattern in the visiting non-game customer data 114c.

Furthermore, the visiting non-game customer analysis unit 115e can appropriately use analysis results (past game performance, gaming machine preferences, behavior patterns, etc.) regarding visiting non-game customers. For example, if the gaming machines preferred by non-gamers visiting the store are tallied, it is possible to present gaming machines to be added by the gaming parlor. The number of gaming machines favored by non-gamers visiting the store will increase, and if they play games as gamers, the operation of the gaming machines will improve, and the profits of the amusement arcades can be expected to improve.

Also, the analysis results regarding the non-game customers who come to the store may be provided to the game clerk as customer service support information. In this case, the game clerk can implement a response according to the person to be served, such as the date and time when the desired gaming machine is likely to be available or the expansion status of the favorite gaming machine.

Next, an example of data stored in the storage unit 114 of the face authentication server 110 will be described. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of data stored in the storage unit 114 of the face authentication server 110. As shown in FIG.

The visitor image database 114a shown in FIG. 7 associates dates and facial images with each other and accumulates them. The facial images in the customer image database 114 a are the facial images of customers extracted from the imaging result of the entrance/exit camera 120 . The date and time of the visitor image database 114a is the date and time when the face image of the visitor was taken, and indicates the date and time of the visit.

The player image database 114b shown in FIG. 7 stores date and time, face images, and gaming machines in association with each other. The face image of the player image database 114b is the face image of the player extracted from the imaging result of the card processing machine 10 between the machines. The date and time of the player image database 114b is the date and time when the face image of the player was taken, and indicates that the game was played at least at this date and time. The player image database 114b shows the gaming machine used by the player, that is, the performance of the game.

The visiting non-game customer data 114c shown in FIG. 7 is data in which the date and time, face image, gaming machine preference, and action pattern are associated with each other. The date and face image of the visiting non-game customer data 114c are the date and face image of the visiting customer image database 114a. Preference of gaming machines indicates what type of gaming machine and game performance was used in the past. The behavior pattern indicates under what conditions non-gamers who come to the store leave the store without playing games.

Next, the extraction and analysis of visiting non-gamers will be described. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of extraction and analysis of visiting non-gamers. First, as shown in FIG. 8, by accumulating a customer image and a player image and taking a difference between the customer image and the player image, a non-game customer can be extracted.

By referring to the game results in the player image database 114b using the face image of the non-game customer, the preferences of the non-game customer for gaming machines can be determined. Furthermore, it is possible to estimate the behavior patterns of non-gamers visiting the store by acquiring the operation status of the gaming machines of the day from the hall computer 90 and determining whether or not there was a vacancy in the gaming machines preferred by the non-gamers visiting the store.

Next, a processing procedure of the face authentication server 110 will be described. FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure of the face authentication server 110. As shown in FIG. First, the visitor image processing unit 115a extracts a visitor's face image from the result of imaging by the entrance/exit camera 120 and generates a visitor image (step S101). The visitor image processing unit 115a stores the visitor image in association with the date and time of visitation in the visitor image database 114a (step S102).

Further, the player image processing unit 115b extracts the face image of the player from the result of imaging by the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and generates a player image (step S103). The image is stored in the player image database 114b in association with the date and time of image capture. (step S104).

After that, the visiting non-game customer extraction unit 115d determines whether or not to start analysis (step S105). The analysis can be started automatically after the end of business hours, or can be started on the condition that a predetermined analysis start operation is received. If the analysis is not started (step S105; No), the process returns to step S101 to generate a visitor image.

If the analysis is to be started (step S105; Yes), the visiting non-gamer extraction unit 115d compares the visiting customer image of the visiting customer image database 114a with the player image of the player image database 114b, is extracted (step S106).

The non-game customer analysis unit 115e identifies the past game performance of the non-game customer by referring to the game performance of the customer image database 114b using the customer image of the non-game customer (step S107). In addition, the visiting non-game customer analysis unit 115e determines the preference of the gaming machine based on the past game performance of the visiting non-game customer (step S108). Furthermore, the visiting non-game customer analysis unit 115e compares the gaming machine preference of the visiting non-game customer with the operation status of the gaming machine on the day to estimate the behavior pattern of the visiting non-game customer (step S109). Then, the date and time, face image, preference of the gaming machine, and behavior pattern are stored as the visitor non-game customer data 114c (step S110), and the process is terminated.

Next, use of the in-store camera will be described. In the explanation so far, the case of extracting non-game customers who come to the store by using the imaging by the inter-stand card processing machine 10 and the entrance/exit camera 120 has been explained. It can also be used for other purposes. For example, if an in-store camera is provided to capture an image of the inside of the amusement arcade, and the images taken by the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and the images taken by the in-store camera are used, the target player can be found in the event of an item left behind or a fraudulent act.

However, if the image pickup by the inter-stand card processing machine 10 and the image pickup by the in-store camera are not coordinated, it is necessary to rewind the video recorded by the in-store camera until the target player is found, which takes a lot of time. . Moreover, even when a target player is found, in many cases the in-store camera cannot identify the face. It has to be rewound, which takes even more time.

Therefore, the imaging by the inter-stand card processing machine 10 and the imaging by the in-store camera are linked to immediately switch and reproduce the video image each time the player changes. Specifically, first, the time setting of the camera of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 is matched with the time setting of the cooperating in-store camera. The in-store camera includes a plurality of game machines and a plurality of inter-machine card processors 10 in its imaging range, and the inter-machine card processor 10 cooperates with the in-store camera that includes its own device in its imaging range. When a plurality of in-store cameras are provided, each of them has a different imaging range, and the inter-machine card processing machine 10 in the amusement store cooperates with one of the in-store cameras.

Then, the time is recorded every time a change of people is detected from the result of imaging by the inter-stand card processing machine 10, and the time is notified to the cooperating in-store cameras. The in-store camera divides the video into chapters according to the notified time and saves it.

Alternatively, a signal may be sent to a linked in-store camera each time a change of people is detected from the imaging result by the inter-stand card processing machine 10, and the video may be divided into chapters at the timing when the in-store camera receives the signal.

In this way, if chapters are generated in the results of imaging by the in-store camera based on the results of imaging by the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the player can arbitrarily select a chapter when playing back the video imaged by the in-store camera. The video can be easily reproduced each time the video is replaced. Further, it is also possible to configure such that when the target player can be identified, the image at the relevant time is automatically stored by the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and the in-store camera.

It should be noted that the detection of the replacement of persons from the result of imaging by the inter-stand card processing machine 10 may be performed at the time when a player with a face different from that of the previous player is seated.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the use of the in-store camera. FIG. 10(a) is an example of cooperation between the inter-stand card processing machine 10 and an in-store camera. The machine number in FIG. 10( a ) is identification information that uniquely identifies the gaming machine 20 installed together with the inter-machine card processing machine 10 . In FIG. 10(a), inter-stand card processors 10 in the 1st to 40th series cooperate with the in-store camera C1, inter-stand card processors 10 in the 41st to 80th series cooperate with the in-store camera C2, and 81st to 120th series Inter-stand card processors 10 are shown to work with in-store camera C3, and 121-160 series inter-stand card processors 10 are shown to work with in-store camera C4.

FIG. 10(b) shows a case where chapters are generated in the imaging result of the in-store camera C2 using the imaging result of the camera of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 of the 41st series. Specifically, from the imaging results in the 41st series, the player P11 starts playing at time "10:07:00", the next player P12 starts playing at time "12:21:00", It is shown that the player P13 started the game at the time "15:42:00" and the player P14 started the game at the time "16:15:00".

In this case, the in-store camera C2 receives from the 41st inter-machine card processing machine 10 the time "10:07:00", the time "12:21:00", the time "15:42:00" and the time "16:00". 15:00" notification. Then, the time "10:07:00" is the start time of chapter "41-1", the time "12:21:00" is the start time of chapter "41-2", and the time "15:42:00". is the start time of chapter "41-3", and the time "16:15:00" is the start time of chapter "41-4".

Note that the chapter "41-1" indicates that it is the first chapter in the 41st series. Therefore, chapters such as chapter “42-1” and chapter “42-2” are generated from the imaging results of the 42nd series. Since the in-store camera C2 is associated with the 41st to 80th series, 40 sets of chapters corresponding to the 41st to 80th series are generated in the image captured by the in-store camera C2.

As described above, in this embodiment, the game management system stores the image of a person who has visited a gaming parlor as a visitor image in the visitor image database 114a, and stores the image of a person who has used a gaming machine as a player image. are stored in the player image database 114b, and a person who visited the store but did not use the gaming machine is extracted as a visiting non-game customer by comparing the customer image with the player image. Therefore, it is possible to contribute to the collection and analysis of information about non-gamers who visit the store.

In addition, the game management system manages the performance of games played on gaming machines as gaming performance information in association with player images, and refers to the gaming performance information using the customer images of non-gamers who visit the store. It is possible to analyze the performance of past games.

In addition, the game management system can estimate the behavior patterns of non-game customers who visit the store by comparing the past performance of the non-game customers and the operation status of the gaming machine on the day.

In addition, the game management system can present a game machine to be added based on the past game results of non-gamers who have visited the store.

Also, the customer image can be obtained by capturing an image of the vicinity of the entrance of the game parlor with an entrance camera. It can be obtained from the imaging result by the camera.

In the above-described embodiment, a camera is provided inside the inter-stand card processing machine 10 to obtain a player image. It may be configured to capture an image. Alternatively, a camera for capturing player images may be installed in the vicinity of the inter-machine card processing machine 10, and the camera and the face authentication controller 130 may be directly connected.

In the above-described embodiment, the face authentication server 110 accumulates facial images, extracts non-gamers who visit the store, and analyzes the non-gamers who visit the store. The hall computer may accumulate facial images, extract non-gamers who have visited the store, and analyze the non-gamers who have visited the store.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a detailed description of the form of the card, which is the medium associated with the number of game media, has been omitted, but such cards include magnetic cards, IC (Integrated Circuit) cards, and the like. For convenience of explanation, a "card" is used as an example, but the present invention can also be applied to non-contact chips, sticks, portable terminals, etc. with built-in ICs.

Also, in the above-described embodiment, the case of using game balls as game media has been described as an example, but the present invention can also be applied to the case of using medals for slot machines.

Also, each configuration illustrated is a functional schematic, and does not necessarily need to be physically configured as illustrated. In other words, the form of distribution/integration of each device is not limited to the illustrated one, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed/integrated in arbitrary units according to various loads and usage conditions. Can be configured.

As described above, the game management system according to the present invention is suitable for contributing to the collection and analysis of information about non-gamers who visit the store.

10 inter-machine card processing machine 11 status display unit 12 banknote transport unit 12a banknote insertion slot 13 display operation unit 14 reader/writer 14a card insertion slot 14b holding unit 15, 113 communication unit 16, 114 storage unit 16a own device status data 16b card data 17, 115 control unit 17a data management unit 17b counting processing unit 17c imaging processing unit 18a nozzle unit 18b counting unit 19 camera 20 gaming machine 30 island controller 40 card management device 50 member management device 60 prize management device 80 payment machine 110 face authentication server 111 display unit 112 input unit 113 communication unit 114a visitor image database 114b player image database 114c visitor non-game customer data 115a visitor image processing unit 115b player image processing unit 115c game performance management unit 115d visitor non-game customer extraction unit 115e Visiting Non-Gamer Analysis Unit 120 Entrance/Exit Camera 130 Face Authentication Controller 140 Router

Claims (4)

A game management system for managing a game in a game store installed with a game machine for playing a game using a game medium,
a visitor image storage means for storing an image of a person who has visited the amusement arcade as a visitor image;
player image storage means for storing an image of a person using the gaming machine as a player image;
a visitor non-game customer extracting means for comparing the visitor image with the game customer image and extracting a person who visited the store but did not use the gaming machine as a visitor non-game customer ;
a game performance management means for managing the performance of a game played by the gaming machine as game performance information in association with the player image;
visitor non-game customer analysis means for analyzing the past game results of the visitor non-game customer by referring to the game performance information from the visitor image of the visitor non-game customer;
A game management system comprising: The non-game customer analysis means estimates the behavior pattern of the non-game customer by comparing the past performance of the non-game customer with the operation status of the gaming machine on the current day. The game management system according to claim 1 . 3. The game management system according to claim 1, wherein said non-game customer analysis means presents a gaming machine to be added based on the past game results of said non-game customer. an entrance/exit camera that captures an image of the visitor by capturing an image of the vicinity of the entrance/exit of the amusement parlor;
4. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising: a camera installed in each machine installed in the game machine to perform processing related to the game media, and for capturing the image of the player. 1. A game management system according to one.

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