BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to peripheral devices for providing a service for a
player of a gaming device and a gaming system therewith.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0002] Certain gaming devices are installed in a gaming arcade to be arranged in one or
more rows referred to as "Islands". Being sandwiched in these gaming devices, peripheral
devices for providing various services for a player of the gaming device, commonly
called "Sandwiched Devices", are provided. The sandwiched devices provide services
such as providing gaming media such as gaming balls or medals, or instructing the
gaming device to provide the media, in response to depositing coins. Money in cash,
prepaid cards and membership cards are available to the depositing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] If the player does not use up the deposited coins to leave a balance, the balance
may be exposed to risk of being stolen particularly when the player temporarily leaves
his/her seat.
[0004] An obj ect of the present invention is provision of security measurements for management
of the balance deposited by the player of the gaming device.
[0005] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a peripheral device of
a gaming device operates in connection with a management server to manage a balance
deposited by a player as a balance data. The peripheral device is provided with: a
reader unit operable to read a characteristic peculiar to the player; a reception
unit operable to receive an instruction of deposition to the balance and a request
for withdrawal of the balance by the player; and a controller operable to convert
the characteristic into a characteristic data, transmit the instruction or the request
with the characteristic or the characteristic data to the management server in response
to the instruction or the request, and receive the balance data from the management
server.
[0006] Preferably, the controller is intended for a balance at a step where the balance
has not been changed for a gaming medium.
[0007] More preferably, the reader unit is provided with a fingerprint imaging device.
[0008] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a management server
operates in connection with one or more peripheral devices and gaming devices to manage
balances deposited by players in correlation with characteristics of the players.
The management server is provided with: a data base including one or more records,
each of the records including a characteristic field and a balance field, the characteristic
field and the balance field being correlated with each other; and a controller operable
to receive a data with an instruction of deposition or a request for withdrawal from
one of the peripheral devices, write the characteristic and the balance in the received
data respectively on the characteristic field and the balance field in one of the
records in response to the instruction, and search a specific record having a specific
characteristic coinciding with the characteristic in the received data to transmit
a specific balance in the specific record to said one of the peripheral devices.
[0009] Preferably, the management server is further provided with a storage device storing
the data base.
[0010] In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, a peripheral device of
a gaming device operates in connection with a management server to adjust a balance
deposited by a player on the basis of characteristic data and balance data stored
in the management server. The peripheral device is provided with: a reader unit operable
to read a characteristic peculiar to the player; a reception unit operable to receive
a request for adjustment of the balance by the player; a cash-out device operable
to cash out a controlled number of bills and coins; and a controller operable to convert
the characteristic into a characteristic data, transmit the request with the characteristic
or the characteristic data to the management server in response to the request, and
receive the balance data from the management server to cause the cash-out device to
cash out the controlled number of the bills and the coins.
[0011] In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, a gaming system manages
a balance deposited by a player. The gaming system is provided with: one or more peripheral
devices, each of the peripheral devices including; a reader unit operable to read
a characteristic peculiar to the player, a reception unit operable to receive an instruction
of deposition to the balance and a request for withdrawal of the balance by the player,
and a controller operable to convert the characteristic into a characteristic data,
transmit the instruction or the request with the characteristic or the characteristic
data in response to the instruction or the request, and receive a balance data specific
to the player; and a management server including; a data base including one or more
records, each of the records including a characteristic field and a balance field,
the characteristic field and the balance field being correlated with each other, and
a controller operable to receive the instruction or the request with the characteristic
or the characteristic data from one of the peripheral devices, renew the characteristic
field and the balance field in one of the records in response to the instruction,
and search a specific record having a specific characteristic coinciding with the
characteristic in the received data to transmit a specific balance data in the specific
record as the balance data specific to the player to said one of the peripheral devices.
[0012] Preferably, the gaming system is further provided with a second peripheral device
provided with: a second peripheral device; a reader unit operable to read a characteristic
peculiar to the player, a reception unit operable to receive a request for adjustment
of the balance by the player, a cash-out device operable to cash out a controlled
number of bills and coins, and a controller operable to convert the characteristic
into a characteristic data, transmit the request with the characteristic or the characteristic
data to the management server in response to the request, and receive a balance data
specific to the player from the management server to cause the cash-out device to
cash out the controlled number of the bills and the coins.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013]
Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a gaming system in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a sandwiched device in accordance with the embodiment;
Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the sandwiched device;
Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a management server in accordance with the embodiment;
Fig. 5 is an illustration of a record structure in a fingerprint data base in accordance
with the embodiment;
Fig. 6 is a block diagram of a balance adjustment device in accordance with the embodiment;
Fig. 7 is a flowchart with respect to a wait state of the sandwiched device;
Fig. 8 is a flowchart for operation of the sandwiched device with respect to accumulation
of a balance;
Fig. 9 is a flowchart for operation of the sandwiched device with respect to withdrawal
of the balance;
Fig. 10 is a flowchart for operation of the management server with respect to accumulation
of the balance;
Fig. 11 is flowchart for operation of the management server with respect to withdrawal
of the balance;
Fig. 12 is a flowchart for operation of the sandwiched device when receiving a disablement
notification;
Fig. 13 is a flowchart for operation of the balance adjustment device;
Fig. 14 is a flowchart for operation of the management server with respect to balance
adjustment; and
Fig. 15 is a flowchart for operation of the management server with respect to rationalization
of the fingerprint data base.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] A sandwiched device, a management server and a gaming system therewith in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference
to the appended drawings.
(A-1)Constitution
[0015] The gaming system 1 in accordance with the embodiment is provided with gaming devices
2, sandwiched devices 3, island unit controllers 4, a management server 5, a data
base 6, a balance adjustment device 7 and a pager base station 8. The island unit
controllers 4, the management server 5, the balance adjustment device 7 and the pager
base station 8 as peripheral devices are linked to a network 9 of a gaming arcade
so as to communicate with each other.
[0016] Various gaming devices such as a pachinko, a slot machine or any gaming machines
may be applied to the gaming device 2. The following description will be given to
a case where the slot machine is applied to the gaming device 2.
[0017] The sandwiched devices 3 are arranged in rows with the gaming devices 2, referred
to as islands, and are sandwiched between the gaming devices 2. The sandwiched devices
3 in accordance with the embodiment serve to change deposited coins in cash or a balance
by the deposited cash into medals to play the slot machine, and provide security measures
by fingerprint authentication, which uses fingerprints as physical characteristics
respectively peculiar to players, in accumulation to the balance and withdrawal of
the balance.
[0018] The island unit controller 4 is provided in each island and serves the plurality
of gaming device 2 and the sandwiched devices 3 in the island in common as a relay
of communication from and to the management server 5. The gaming device 2 and the
sandwiched devices 3 may be configured to communicate with the management server 5
without the island unit controller 4.
[0019] Themanagement server 5 serves asmanagement of information of the respective sandwiched
devices 3 and information with respect to gaming in the respective gaming devices
2, and checking with respect to fingerprint authentication. A storage device such
as a hard disk for storing the data base 6 is provided in relation to the management
server 5. The data base 6 contains a fingerprint data base 6a and a device data base
6b. The management server 5 may serve a plurality of gaming arcades and may be installed
separately from the gaming arcades.
[0020] The balance adjustment device 7 is installed in, for example, the vicinity of a gift
exchange or an entrance of the gaming arcade. The balance adj ustment device 7 serves
for paying back a balance left not changed into gaming media.
[0021] The pager base station 8 is installed in the gaming arcade to communicate with pager
terminals (not shown) which attendants of the gaming arcade carry around.
[0022] The management server 5 installed in a management room establishes various communications
with the gaming devices 2, the sandwiched devices 3, the island unit controller 4,
the balance adjustment device 7 and the pager base station 8 installed in a hall of
the gaming arcade via the network 9. Instead of the network 9, any private lines may
be applied thereto.
[0023] A perspective view of the sandwiched device 3 is illustrated in Fig. 2. The sandwiched
device 3 is provided with an alarm lamp 11, a plurality of state indicator LED 12a-12c
(three in Fig. 2 as merely an example), a bill insertion slot 13, a coin insertion
slot 14, a communication window 15 for remote control, an indicator LCD 16, a numeric
keypad part 17, a coin return slot 18 and a fingerprint reading window 19, all of
which are on a front face of the sandwiched device 3 when installed.
[0024] The alarm lamp 11 is to flash or blink so as to alarm anyone when the sandwiched
device 3 encounters any difficulties (for example, any contradiction in fingerprint
authentication).
[0025] The indicator LED 12a-12c are to indicate the current state of the sandwiched device
3 or the gaming device 2 by the respective flashing and blinking or by combinations
of a plurality of flashing or blinking indicators. For example, a state of waiting
fingerprint imaging and a state of processing after imaging of the fingerprint are
indicated thereby.
[0026] The bill insertion slot 13 is to receive depositing bills and the coin insertion
slot 14 is to receive depositing coins. The coin return slot 18 is to return coins
which have been once deposited. The bill insertion slot 13 is also configured to return
once deposited bills in response to operation of a cash-out key or detection of counterfeit
bills as will be described later. Such a function is not given to the coin insertion
slot 14 and instead the coin return slot 18 serves therefor. Either the bill insertion
slot 13 or the coin insertion slot 14 may be omitted to limit accepting money to bills
or coins.
[0027] The communication window 15 is to receive infrared signals from remote control transmitters
(not shown) which attendants of the gaming arcade carry around to give instructions
to the sandwiched device 3.
[0028] The indicator LCD 16 is to indicate management information which the management server
5 or the sandwiched device 3 issues. The numeric keypad part 17 is an input device
including numeric keys, the cash-out key and such to receive commands from players
or attendants. The indicator LCD 16 and the numeric keypad part 17 constitute an operation
panel part.
[0029] The fingerprint reading window 19 is to read fingerprints placed in front thereof
and is provided with a CCD camera part 29 (see Fig. 3) in the interior thereof.
[0030] Referring to Fig. 3, the sandwiched device 3 is provided with a controller part 20,
a communication part 21, a remote-controller communication part 22, a bill processing
part 23, a coin processing part 24, an alarm lamp driver part 25, a LED driver part
26, an indicator LCD driver part 27, a numeric keypad interface (IF) part 28, a CCD
camera part 29 and such for electrical processing.
[0031] The controller part 20 is, for example, provided with a CPU, a ROM, a RAM and such
to serve for total control of the sandwiched device 3. The controller part 20 controls
respective parts of the sandwiched device 3 to carry out operations illustrated in
flowcharts of Figs. 7-9 and 12. Further, the controller part 20 stores data necessary
to the control. For example, the controller part 20 stores data of a balance left
not changed into gaming media.
[0032] The controller part 20 is configured so as to process image signals (of fingers)
given by the CCD camera part 29 into fingerprint data.
[0033] The communication part 21 is to execute communications with the gaming device 2,
the island unit controller 4, the management server 5 and such under the control of
the controller part 20. While illustrated as a whole in Fig. 3, the communication
part for communication with the gaming device 2 may be separated from the communication
part for communication with the other devices. The management server 5 uses a publicly
known polling scheme to establish communications with the plurality of sandwiched
devices 3, in which one device establishes communications with the other devices one
by one. The communication part 21 establishes communication with the management server
5 by receiving such polling. The balance adjustment device 7 may be also subject to
such communication in the polling scheme.
[0034] The remote-controller communication part 22 is to receive infrared signals from the
remote control transmitters of the attendants via the communication window 15 and
give instructions to the controller part 20.
[0035] The bill processing part 23 is to directly control conveyance, authentication, pooling
and such of the deposited bills to carry out judgment of authenticity, face values
and such of the bills and give information thereof to the controller part 20. In a
case where the deposited bills are judged to be counterfeit, the bill processing part
23 controls the bill insertion slot 13 to return the bills back.
[0036] The coin processing part 24 is to directly control conveyance, authentication, pooling
and such of the deposited coins to carry out judgment of authenticity, face values
and such of the coins and give information thereof to the controller part 20. In a
case where the deposited coins are judged to be counterfeit, the coin processing part
24 controls the coin return slot 18 to return the coins back.
[0037] The alarm lamp driver part 25 is to drive the alarm lamp 11 under the control of
the controller part 20 and the LED driver part 26 is to drive the state indication
LED 12a-12c under the control of the controller part 20.
[0038] The indicator LCD driver part 27 is to drive the indicator LCD 16 under the control
of the controller part 20. The indicator LCD 16 indicates data of a player' s balance
applicable to being changed into gaming media, the other data and messages to the
player. The numeric keypad interface (IF) part 28 is to sense operation of the numeric
keypad part 17 and gives operation signals to the controller 20.
[0039] The CCD camera part 29 takes image of fingers of players placed in front of the fingerprint
reading window 19 under the control of the controller part 20 and gives image signals
to the controller part 20.
[0040] The sandwiched device 3 in accordance with the present embodiment merely serves for
booting up and control of the gaming device 2, which changes a deposited money into
gaming media such as medals to play the slot machine, and, in itself, does not serve
for changing a deposited money to the medals. However, it may be modified such that
the sandwiched device 3 in itself serves for exchanging of medals.
[0041] Referring to Fig. 4, the management server 5 is provided with a controller part 30,
a communication part 31 and a data base (DB) access part 32.
[0042] The controller part 30 is, for example, provided with a CPU, a ROM, a RAM and such
to serve for total control of the management server 5. The controller part 30 controls
respective parts of the management server 5 to carry out operations illustrated in
flowcharts of Figs. 10, 11, 14 and 15. Further, the controller part 30 stores data
necessary to the control.
[0043] The communication part 31 is to execute communications with the sandwiched device
3 (and a combination with the gaming device 2), the island unit controller 4, the
balance adjustment device 7, and the pager base station 8 and such under the control
of the controller part 30. While illustrated as a whole in Fig. 4, the communication
part may be composed of a plurality of sub-parts for selective and individual communication
with respective devices. The management server 5 uses the polling scheme to establish
communications with the plurality of sandwiched devices 3.
[0044] The data base access part 32 is to access the data base 6 to read and write data
thereon under the control of the controller part 20.
[0045] Referring to Fig. 5, the data base 6 includes the fingerprint data base 6a with a
record structure shown therein. Each record of the fingerprint data base 6a includes
fields of a fingerprint data, a registration time data, a balance data, and a history
data, all of which are correlated with a specific player.
[0046] The fingerprint data is a data for expressing a feature of a fingerprint rendered
from an image imaged by the sandwiched device 3. Any publicly known image data type
such as what is disclosed in
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. JP2003-274006, in which an image data is composed of characteristic points and relations, may be
applied to the fingerprint data. Usage of such a fingerprint data in which a feature
of a fingerprint is compressed leads to improvement of quality of security with respect
to leakage of the fingerprint information. Meanwhile, the respective records of the
fingerprint data base 6a are sorted in binary number order. This sorting contributes
to ease of comparing the imaged fingerprint data with the data base and reduction
in time required to the comparing, as this systemnot like the other ordinary fingerprint
authentication systems cannot refer the other data to refine search the fingerprint
data.
[0047] The registration time data is composed of a time (or a time and a date) when the
record is formed. The registration time data is, for example, used for limiting a
time limit for balance adjustment. The registration time data is used for determining
whether the balance adjustment is allowed. For example, in such a scheme, a player
cannot adjust his/her balance to get the balance in cash in a next day of the date
when he/she accumulates the balance, or he/she is merely allowed to carry out balance
adjustment for one month from the date.
[0048] The balance data is composed of a player's balance applicable to being changed into
gaming media. When the player changes the balance into gaming media, it is further
required that the imaged fingerprint coincides with the stored fingerprint data.
[0049] The history data is composed of a received data from which a fingerprint data is
excluded and a receiving time when the management server 5 receives the data including
the finger print data from one of the sandwiched devices 3.
[0050] The device data base 6b is composed of a plurality of data respectively correlated
with the sandwiched devices 3. Each data includes a sum of the deposited money in
cash and the time thereof composes the data for example. Further, the data base 6b
may include flags whether the respective gaming devices 2 correspondent to the sandwiched
devices 3 are in playing. However, the device data base 6b excludes the fingerprint
data.
[0051] Referring to Fig. 6, the balance adjustment device 7 is provided with a controller
part 40, a communication part 41, a bill processing part 42, a coin processing part
43, an alarm lamp driver part 44, an indicator LCD driver part 45, a keypad interface
(IF) part 46, and a CCD camera part 47.
[0052] The controller part 40 is, for example, provided with a CPU, a ROM, a RAM and such
to serve for total control of the balance adjustment device 7. The controller part
40 controls respective parts of the balance adjustment device 7 to carry out operations
illustrated in flowcharts of Fig. 13. Further, the controller part 40 stores data
necessary to the control.
[0053] The controller part 40 is configured so as to process image signals (of fingers)
given by the CCD camera part 47 into fingerprint data.
[0054] The communication part 41 is to execute communications with the management server
5 under the control of the controller part 40. The management server 5 also uses the
polling scheme to establish communications with the balance adjustment device 7 like
as the sandwiched device 3. The communication part 41 establishes communication with
the management server 5 by receiving such polling. The balance adjustment device 7
may use another scheme to establish communications with the management server 5.
[0055] The bill processing part 42 is to directly control apparatuses (not shown) for transporting,
pooling and cashing out bills. The bill processing part 42 controls the apparatuses
to cash out the instructed number of bills to a bill cash-out slot under the control
of the controller part 40 at a time of balance adjustment if bills are required.
[0056] The coin processing part 43 is to directly control apparatuses (not shown) for transporting,
pooling and cashing out coins. The coin processing part 43 controls the apparatuses
to cash out the instructed number of coins to a coin cash-out slot under the control
of the controller part 40 at a time of balance adjustment if coins are required.
[0057] The alarm lamp driver part 44 is to drive an alarm lamp (not shown) under the control
of the controller part 40.
[0058] The indicator LED driver part 45 is to drive one or more indicator LEDs (not shown)
under the control of the controller part 40. The indicator LEDs are applied to prompting
players to have their fingerprints imaged by flashing or blinking (or a combination
thereof) of the LEDs. The keypad interface part 46 is to sense operation on an adjustment
key or a call key (both not shown) to notify the operation as an operation signal
to the controller part 40.
[0059] The CCD camera part 47 takes image of fingers of players placed in front of a fingerprint
reading window (not shown) under the control of the controller part 40 and gives image
signals to the controller part 40.
[0060] The gaming devices 2, the island unit controllers 4 and the pager base station 8
may be constituted in a similar way to publicly known gaming devices, island unit
controllers and pager base station, and therefore the detailed description will be
omitted.
(A-2)Operations
[0061] Operation of the gaming system 1 will be described hereinafter. As a feature of the
present embodiment, fingerprint authentication is used for accumulation to and withdrawal
of a deposited balance.
[0062] Referring to Fig. 7, a wait state of the sandwiched device 3 and operations thereafter
will be described hereinafter.
[0063] The controller part 20 of the sandwiched device 3 in the wait state reciprocally
monitors whether an instruction for changing the balance for medals is given, whether
a deposit in cash is received, whether a deposit using fingerprint matching is called,
and whether an instruction to cash out the balance is received (S100-S103).
[0064] In a case where a call key for providing medals of the sandwiched device 3 or of
the gaming device 2 in combination with the sandwiched device 3 is operated, the controller
part 20 verifies whether the balance is zero (S104). If zero, the controller part
20 returns to the wait state, and, if not zero, the controller part 20 processes provision
of medals (S105) and then returns to the wait state. In the process of provision of
medals, the controller part 20 collaborates with a medal emission device (not shown)
to emit a predetermined number of medals to a tray of the gaming device 2 and in association
decrease the balance in the stored balance data by one unit. The controller part 20
also carries out renewal of indication of the left balance on the indicator LCD 16
and notifies a change in the balance data to the management server 5. Then, the management
server 5 renews the balance data of the device data base 6b related to the current
sandwiched device 3.
[0065] The notification (communication) from the sandwiched device 3 to the management server
5 is executed at timing when the polling is given to the sandwiched device 3. The
same applies to any communications described in the following description.
[0066] When the controller part 20 of the sandwiched device 3 receives notification of deposition
in cash from the bill processing part 23 or the coin processing part 24, namely when
the player deposits cash, the controller 20 causes increase of the balance in the
balance data by a value correspondent to a sum of the cash. The controller part 20
also carries out renewal of indication of the left balance on the indicator LCD 16
and notifies a change in the balance data to the management server 5 so as to renew
the balance data of the device data base 6b related to the current sandwiched device
3. Then, the controller part 20 returns to the wait state.
[0067] When the controller part 20 of the sandwiched device 3 receives an instruction to
cash out the balance, the controller part 20 transits to cash-out processes shown
in Fig. 8. When the controller part 20 receives an instruction to deposit using fingerprint
matching, the controller part 20 transits to deposition processes with fingerprint
matching shown in Fig. 9. Equivalent procedures will be executed in a case of receiving
an instruction to accumulate the balance.
[0068] In a case where a cash-out key in the numeric keypad part 17 of the sandwiched device
3 or of the gaming device 2 is operated, namely when the player instructs to cash
out the balance, the controller part 20 of the sandwiched device 3 verifies whether
the balance is zero (S150) as shown in Fig. 8. If zero, the controller part 20 returns
to the wait state shown in Fig. 7.
[0069] On the other hand, if the balance is not zero, the controller part 20 of the sandwiched
device 3 causes the indicator LEDs 12a-12c to flash or blink (or carry out a combination
of flashing and blinking; including merely one LED to flash or blink) so as to prompt
the player to have his/her fingerprint imaged (S151). Subsequently the controller
20 causes the CCD camera part 29 to image the fingerprint (S152) as a characteristic
of the player, convert the image into a fingerprint data (S153) as a characteristic
data, and buffer the converted fingerprint data therein (S154). As the conversion
scheme, the method disclosed in
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-274006 can be applied.
[0070] The gaming device 2 correspondent to the sandwiched device 3 may be modified so as
to deny cashing in the course of playing. More specifically, under reading the fingerprint,
the other processes are denied so as to regulate accurate timing for reading the fingerprint.
Since information about the fingerprints belong to privacy of individuals, registration
of the fingerprint is limited in occasions of cashing out and accumulation of the
balance so as to omit unnecessary registration. While omitted in Fig. 8, if failure
in conversion to the fingerprint data occurs, re-prompting by the indicator LEDs 12a-12c
is carried out.
[0071] When the controller part 20 of the sandwiched device 3 obtains a priority for transmission,
the controller part 20 transmits a request data for accumulation, which at least includes
a data representative of being for accumulation, an ID of the sandwiched device 3,
a balance data and a fingerprint data, to the management server 5 (S155). The controller
part 20 subsequently clears the prompt indication of the indicator LEDs 12a-12c (S156),
and waits a completion notification of accumulation from the management server 5 (S157).
Meanwhile, the communication of the request data for accumulation may be ciphered.
[0072] When the controller part 30 of the management server 5 receives the request data
for accumulation, the controller part 30 carries out processes for accumulation of
the balance in the balance data in the fingerprint data base 6a (S200-S203). The controller
part 30 subsequently clears the balance to be zero (S204), and, by the polling communication,
further notifies completion of accumulation to the sandwiched device 3 which transmits
the request data for accumulation in the polling communication (S205).
[0073] The processes by the controller part 30 of the management server 5 are for example
as follows. The controller part 30 verifies whether the record of the fingerprint
data coinciding with the received fingerprint data exists (S200). If found, the controller
part 30 renew the balance data in the correspondent record into what the received
balance data is added and adds a history relating to the current communication to
the history data in the record (S201). If not found in the fingerprint data base 6a,
the controller part 30 adds a new record for the received fingerprint data to the
fingerprint data base 6a (S202). The controller part 30 subsequently inserts the received
fingerprint data into the field for the fingerprint of the current record, the received
time on the basis of a timer of the controller 30 into the field for the registered
time, the received balance data into the field for the balance data, and the data
related to the current communication into the field of the history data (S203). The
new record is subject to sorting on the basis of the fingerprint data.
[0074] When the controller part 20 of the sandwiched device 3 is given the completion notification
of accumulation from the management server 5, the controller part 20 clears the balance
data to be zero (S158), and returns to the wait state shown in Fig. 7.
[0075] When a key for call for an accumulated balance in the numeric keypad part 17 of the
sandwiched device 3 is operated in the wait state, namely when the deposit using fingerprint
matching is instructed, the controller part of the sandwiched device 3 causes the
indicator LEDs 12a-12c to flash or blink so as to prompt the player to have his/her
fingerprint imaged (S250) as shown in Fig. 9. Subsequently the controller 20 causes
the CCD camera part 29 to image the fingerprint (S251), convert the image into a fingerprint
data (S252), and buffer the converted fingerprint data therein (S253).
[0076] The gaming device 2 correspondent to the sandwiched device 3 may be modified so as
to deny cashing in the course of playing. More specifically, under reading the fingerprint,
the other processes are denied so as to regulate accurate timing for reading the fingerprint.
While omitted in Fig. 9, if failure in conversion to the fingerprint data occurs,
re-prompting by the indicator LEDs 12a-12c is carried out.
[0077] When the controller part 20 of the sandwiched device 3 obtains a priority for transmission,
the controller part 20 transmits a request data for withdrawal, which at least includes
a data representative of being for withdrawal, an ID of the sandwiched device 3, a
balance data and a fingerprint data, to the management server 5 (S254). The controller
part 20 subsequently clears the prompt indication of the indicator LEDs 12a-12c (S255),
and waits a notification of deposition and such from the management server 5 (S256-S259).
Meanwhile, the communication of the request data for withdrawal may be ciphered.
[0078] When the controller part 30 of the management server 5 receives the request data
for withdrawal, the controller part 30 carries out processes for withdrawal of the
balance in the balance data in the fingerprint data base 6a as shown in Fig. 11.
[0079] The controller part 30 verifies whether the record of the fingerprint data coinciding
with the received fingerprint data exists in the fingerprint data base 6a (S300).
[0080] If found, the controller part 30 further verifies whether the balance in the balance
data of the record is zero or not (S301). If the balance is not zero, the controller
part 30 of the management server 5 generates and transmits a notification of deposition
including the balance data to the sandwiched device 3 (S302). The controller part
30 subsequently clears the balance data to be zero, adds a history to the history
data, and renews the balance data correspondent to the current sandwiched device in
the device data base 6b (S303).
[0081] In contrast, if the balance in the balance data of the record with respect to the
fingerprint data correspondent to the received fingerprint data is zero, the controller
part 30 of the management server 5 discriminates a previous sandwiched device (referred
with a reference character 3X hereinafter), at which withdrawing the balance is carried
out just prior to the current sandwiched device, and a time when the withdrawing is
done on the basis of the history data. Then the controller part 30 determines whether
any irregularity has been done at the previous sandwiched device 3X on the basis of
stored contents in the device data base 6b (S304).
[0082] In a case where a player plays a game by withdrawing the accumulated balance at the
previous sandwiched device 3X, then moves to the other sandwiched device 3 and requests
withdrawal of the accumulated balance while the balance is left in the previous sandwiched
device 3X, the other next player may misappropriate the balance in the previous sandwiched
device 3X. The controller part 30 of the management server 5 is capable of recognizing
such a possibility by using the aforementioned scheme. The controller part 30 can
check such a possibility of irregularity by detecting the balance left in the previous
sandwiched device 3X while deposition of cash into the previous sandwiched device
3X is not done after the time of withdrawal at the previous sandwiched device 3X until
the time of request for withdrawal at the current sandwiched device 3 on the basis
of the stored contents of the fingerprint data base 6a and the device data base 6b.
[0083] When the controller part 30 finds any possibility of irregularities occurred at the
previous sandwiched device 3X at which withdrawing the balance is carried out just
prior to the current sandwiched device, the controller part 30 generates and transmits
a disablement notification which requests disablement of use to the previous sandwiched
device 3X (S305). The controller part 30 subsequently generates and transmits a notification
of deposition including a balance data with respect to the previous sandwiched device
3X in the device data base 6b to the current sandwiched device 3 (S306). The controller
part 30 further subsequently clears the balance in the balance data to be zero, adds
the current contents to the history data, and renews the balance data with respect
to the current sandwiched device 3 in the device data base 6b (S307). The controller
part 30 still subsequently transmits a notification that a possibility of irregularities
is found with respect to the previous sandwiched device 3X to the pager terminal which
the attendant taking charge of the previous sandwiched device 3X carries about (S308).
[0084] The notification of deposition generated at the step S306 and the notification of
regular deposition generated at the step S302 may include any information to discriminate
these notifications.
[0085] In a case where the balance in the balance data is zero and any possibility of irregularities
is not found with respect to the previous sandwiched device 3X, the controller part
30 of the management server 5 transmits a notification that the balance is zero to
the sandwiched device 3 which is the source of the currently received data (S309).
[0086] In a case where the controller part 30 of the management server 5 judges that a record
of a fingerprint data coinciding with the received fingerprint data does not exist
in the fingerprint data base 6a, the controller part 30 increments the number CNT
of failure in fingerprint authentication by one (S310), and determines whether the
number CNT reaches an upper limit (for example, three) (S311). If not, the controller
part 30 transmits a request for re-transmission to the sandwiched device 3, which
requests the sandwiched device 3 to re-read the fingerprint image and re-transmit
a converted data (S312). If the number CN reaches the upper limit, the controller
part 30 transmits a notification of an authentication error to the sandwiched device
3 (S313).
[0087] When the controller part 20 of the sandwiched device 3 is given the notification
of deposition by the management server 5, the controller part 20 increases the balance
in the balance data by a value correspondent to a sum of the cash and carries out
renewal of the indication of the balance by the indicator LCD 16 (S260). After this,
the controller part 20 returns to the wait state shown in Fig. 7. Meanwhile, it may
be modified so that reception of the notification of deposition generated at the step
S306 and reception of the notification of regular deposition generated at the step
S302 can be discriminated by flashing, blinking or its combination of the indicator
LEDs 12a-12c.
[0088] When the controller part 20 of the sandwiched device 3 is given the notification
of the balance to be zero from the management server 5, the controller part 20 causes
the indicator LCD 16 and the indicator LEDs 12a-12c to indicate such (S261), and then
returns to the wait state shown in Fig. 7.
[0089] When the controller part 20 of the sandwiched device 3 is given the request for re-transmission
by the management server 5, the controller part 20 places processes back to the aforementioned
step S250.
[0090] When the controller part 20 of the sandwiched device 3 is given the notification
of the authentication error by the management server 5, the controller part 20 causes
the indicator LCD 16 and the indicator LEDs 12a-12c to indicate such (S262), and returns
to the wait state shown in Fig. 7.
[0091] Referring to Fig. 12, the previous sandwiched device 3X functions in accordance with
the flowchart shown therein when receiving the disablement notification.
[0092] When the previous sandwiched device 3X receives the disablement notification, the
previous sandwiched device 3X forcibly clears the balance in the balance data and
the indicating balance data to be zero (S350), and issues an alert by flashing or
blinking the alarm lamp 11 (S351). The alert may be issued by a buzzer.
[0093] Referring to Fig. 13, the balance adjustment device 7 can adjust balances of players,
which are accumulated in relation to their fingerprint data, by cashing out. The balance
adjustment device 7 may or may not limit a time limit for allowing balance adjustment.
However, the following description will be given to a case where a player is limited
to adjust his/her balance only in a first day when he/she accumulates his/her balance.
[0094] The controller part 40 of the balance adjustment device 7 waits operation of a balance
adjustment key or a call key. When the balance adjustment key is operated, the controller
part 40 starts processes shown in Fig. 13. Meanwhile, operations when the call key
is operated will be omitted.
[0095] When balance adjustment is instructed by operation of the balance adjustment key,
the controller part 40 of the balance adjustment device 7 causes the not-shown indicator
LEDs to flash or blink so as to prompt the player to have his/her fingerprint imaged
(S400). The controller part 40 subsequently causes the CCD camera part 47 to image
the fingerprint (401), convert the image into a fingerprint data (S402), and buffer
the converted fingerprint data therein (S403). Meanwhile, it is given that the balance
adjustment device 7, like as the sandwiched devices 3, is subject to communications
in the polling scheme. Further, though omitted in Fig. 13, re-reading the fingerprint
image is to be carried out when conversion to the fingerprint data is failed.
[0096] When the controller part 40 of the balance adjustment device 7 obtains a priority
for transmission, the controller part 40 transmits a request data for balance adjustment
which at least includes a data representative of being for balance adjustment, an
ID of the balance adjustment device 7 and a fingerprint data, to the management server
5 (S404). The controller part 40 subsequently clears the prompt indication of the
indicator LEDs (S405), and waits a reply of a notification of authentication from
the management server 5 (S406-S409). Meanwhile, the communication of the request data
for balance adjustment may be ciphered.
[0097] When the controller part 30 of the management server 5 receives the request data
for balance adjustment, the controller part 30 carries out processes of fingerprint
authentication as shown in Fig. 14.
[0098] The controller part 30 verifies whether the record of the fingerprint data coinciding
with the received fingerprint data exits in the fingerprint data base 6a (S450).
[0099] If found, the controller part 30 further verifies whether the balance in the balance
data of the record is zero or not (S451). If the balance is not zero, the controller
part 30 of the management server 5 verifies whether the registration time data in
the record is the current date or not (S452). If the registration time data is the
current date, the controller part 30 generates and transmits a notification of affirmative
authentication including the balance data in the record to the balance adjustment
device 3 (S453). The controller part 30 subsequently waits a reply of completion of
balance adjustment from the balance adj ustment device 7 (S454), and, after receiving
the reply, deletes the correspondent record in the fingerprint data base 6a (S455).
[0100] If the balance in the balance data is zero, the controller part 30 of the management
server 5 generates and transmits a notification of affirmative authentication representative
of no balance to the balance adjustment device 7 (S456).
[0101] If the balance in the balance data is not zero and the registration time is not the
current date, the controller part 30 of the management server 5 generates and transmits
a notification of affirmative authentication representative of such (S457).
[0102] If a record of a fingerprint data coinciding with the received fingerprint data is
not found in the fingerprint data base 6a, the controller part 30 of the management
server 5 generates and transmits a notification of negative authentication to the
balance adjustment device 7 (S458).
[0103] When the controller part 40 of the balance adjustment device 7 is given the notification
of affirmative authentication including the balance data by the management server
5, the controller part 40 causes the bill processing part 42 and the coin processing
part 43 to cash out money correspondent to the balance (S410), transmits a notification
of completion of balance adjustment to the management server (S411), and, after this,
returns to the wait state.
[0104] When the controller part 40 of the balance adjustment device 7 is given the notification
of affirmative authentication representative of the balance to be zero, the controller
part 40 causes the indicator LEDs (not shown) to flash or blink so as to report that
the balance is zero (for a predetermined period of time such as five seconds; S412),
and, after this, returns to the wait state.
[0105] Further, when the controller part 40 of the balance adjustment device 7 receives
the notification of affirmative authentication representative of the balance not to
be zero and the registration time not to be the current date, the controller part
40 causes the indicator LEDs (not shown) to flash or blink so as to report that balance
adjustment cannot be carried out if out of the registered date (for a predetermined
period of time such as five seconds; S413), and, after this, returns to the wait state.
[0106] Still further, when the controller part 40 of the balance adjustment device 7 receives
the notification of negative authentication, the controller part 40 causes the indicator
LEDs (not shown) to flash or blink so as to report that the fingerprint has not been
authenticated (for a predetermined period of time such as five seconds; S414), and,
after this, returns to the wait state. Meanwhile, re-reading the fingerprint image
may be carried out at a time of failure in authentication of the fingerprint data.
[0107] As described above, adjustment of a balance can be carried out correlated with the
fingerprint data on the day when the fingerprint data is registered.
[0108] Referring to Fig. 15, the controller part 30 of the management server 5 carries out
rationalization of the fingerprint data base 6a.
[0109] When a predetermined time after opening hours, for example 11 p.m. , comes, the controller
part 30 of the management server 5 automatically carries out the processes shown in
Fig. 15. In a case where the management server 5 has man-machine interfaces such as
a numerical keypad and a remote-controller receiver, the processes shown in Fig. 15
may be triggered by an instruction from a manager of the gaming arcade or the attendants.
[0110] After starting the processes shown in Fig. 15, the controller part 30 of the management
server 5 first sets a leading record as a subject record (S500), verifies that a first
rationalizing process (S502 and S503) is not finished on all the records (S501), and
then determines whether the balance in the balance data of the subject record is zero
or not (S502). If the balance in the balance data of the subject record is zero, after
deleting the record (S503), or, if not zero, just after the determination, the controller
part 30 sets a subsequent record as a subject record (S504), and returns to the step
S501.
[0111] When finishing the first rationalizing process on all the records, the controller
part 30 of the management server 5 sets a leading record among all the left records
as a subject record (S505), verifies that a second rationalizing process (S507 and
S508) is not finished on all the records (S506), and then determines whether the subject
record has not been accessed for one month (this term may be variable) with referring
to the registered time data and the history data in the subject record (S507). If
the subject record is determined not to be accessed for one month, after deleting
the record (S508), or, if accessed during the last one month, just after the determination,
the controller part 30 set a subsequent record as a subject record (S509), and returns
to the step S506.
[0112] When finishing the second rationalizing process on all the records, the controller
part 30 of the management server 5 finishes a succession of the processes shown in
Fig. 15.
[0113] As described above, rationalization of records having no balance or not accessed
for one month whereas having any balance.
(A-3)Effects
[0114] The present embodiment provides the following effects since the balances correlated
with the fingerprint data are stored in the management server and extracted by fingerprint
matching.
[0115] Though any system using prepaid or membership cards is susceptible to theft if players
temporarily leave their seat, the present system in accordance with the present embodiment
is insusceptible to theft.
[0116] Since the system is free from a transport mechanism for such cards, reliability of
the sandwiched device is assured.
[0117] Further, since mechanisms for transportation or pooling of the cards are replaced
with smaller mechanisms of such imaging devices, the sandwiched device can be easier
constituted and reduced in cost. Further, since the expendable cards are not used,
further reduction in cost can be expected.
[0118] Provided that a player transits from one gaming device to another gaming device,
in a case where a card system is applied, he/she must carry about and strictly avoid
losing his/her card. In accordance with the present embodiment, by using fingerprint
matching, he/she is not required to carry about and avoid losing any object. Further
he/she can even leave the gaming arcade and later withdraw his/her balance.
[0119] Cards are difficult to be proved of being stolen. However, provided that a stranger
is going to use or withdraw a player's balance in the absence of the player, the present
system can prove the stranger's injustice by referring the history data.
[0120] In accordance with the present embodiment, the fingerprint data are sorted and then
stored in the fingerprint data base. Therefore, authentication by the management server
can be made more quick. In the other fingerprint matching systems, search for authentication
uses another search scheme together. For example, the other system obtains predetermined
data (an account data, a card ID and such) from the card and then carries out authentication.
Therefore, a fingerprint data in the fingerprint data base provided for search is
specified in only one clearly defined path. In contrast, in accordance with the present
embodiment, any other information cannot be used to search and hence limiting the
range of search cannot be carried out on the basis of the other information. Therefore,
sorting of the fingerprint data in advance is meaningful.
(B) Another embodiment
[0121] The aforementioned embodiment and its modifications may be further modified in such
ways as described later.
[0122] While the gaming devices per se provide gaming media in the system in accordance
with the aforementioned embodiment, it may be modified such that sandwiched devices
instead provide gaming media.
[0123] While reading of a fingerprint is carried out at merely one time in the system in
accordance with the aforementioned embodiment, reading may be carried out two or more
times. For example, a provisional registration is carried out on the basis of the
first reading and a regular registration is carried out after verifying that the secondarily
read fingerprint coincides with the first one. By this scheme, improved security is
provided.
[0124] Further, while authentication of fingerprint matching merely determines coincidence
or incoincidence of a read fingerprint with a stored fingerprint data in accordance
with the aforementioned embodiment, a third state such as half-coincidence may be
defined as the result of authentication. For example, if authentication results in
half-coincidence, the management server may prompt the player to have a fingerprint
of another finger imaged at a time of new accumulation and may prompt the player to
have a fingerprint of the identical finger re-imaged at a time of re-accumulation.
[0125] Still further, while the sandwiched device converts the image of the fingerprint
into the fingerprint data in accordance with the aforementioned embodiment, the sandwiched
device may pass the bare image to the management server so that the management server
converts the image into the fingerprint data. Thereby, load on the sandwiched device
can be reduced. Further, the island unit controller 4 serving as a repeater for communications
may have conversion function from the bare image to the fingerprint data. Thereby,
load on the sandwiched device and the management server can be reduced. Furhter, the
bare image may be applied to the fingerprint data.
[0126] While the system in accordance with the aforementioned embodiment changes the balance
to gaming media and permits re-accumulation to the left balances, re-accumulation
may not be permitted.
[0127] Further, while the system in accordance with the aforementioned embodiment does not
delete a record from the fingerprint data base even after reading the accumulated
balance as re-accumulation is premised, the record may be deleted after reading the
accumulated balance. In this case, at a time of re-accumulation, new record may be
added as a new accumulation.
[0128] Still further, while the data transmitted from the sandwiched device to the management
server includes both a fingerprint data and a balance data at a time of accumulation
to the balance in accordance with the aforementioned embodiment, the fingerprint data
and the balance data may be separately transmitted. In this case, either of the fingerprint
data and the balance data may be precedently transmitted.
[0129] While accumulation to the balance is instructed by operation of the cash-out key
and the deposited balance partly changed to the gaming media is applicable to being
accumulated in accordance with the aforementioned embodiment, in addition thereto
or instead thereof, the balance just after being deposited, namely before being changed
to the gaming media, may be accumulated in correspondence to the fingerprint data.
More specifically, a player may accumulate the balance in correspondence to the fingerprint
data just after deposition and withdraw the accumulated balance to the sandwiched
device.
[0130] Further, while all the balance is withdrawn in accordance with the aforementioned
embodiment, merely a part of the balance may be subject to withdrawal by proper operation
of the numeric keypad.
[0131] Still further, while the balance data as a data of money is directly transmitted
and received between the sandwiched device and the management server in accordance
with the aforementioned embodiment, the data of money may in another form may be transmitted
and received and the balance data may be stored in the management server. For example,
just at the time of deposition in cash, the sum of the money is given to the management
server without correspondence with the fingerprint data but it is managed correlated
with the ID of the sandwiched device by the management server. Further when the cash-out
key is operated, the fingerprint data and a consumption data (a money data changed
to the gaming media) are given to the management server, and then at first the calculated
balance data correlated with the fingerprint data is made stored in the fingerprint
data base. Moreover, at a time of withdrawal of the accumulated balance data, the
balance data may be left in the fingerprint data base and the consumption data may
be given to the management server at a time of re-accumulation. Transport of the balance
data in the scope of claims is defined as what includes such the indirect case.
[0132] While a case where guidance for operation and alarms are visually indicated and reported
is described in the above description of the present embodiment, instead, the guidance
for operation and the alarms may be auditorily indicated and reported. Moreover, report
of alarm may be not only made by a device alone such as the sandwiched device and
the balance adjustment device but also made by using a unit of a group of the island
units. For example, the alarm may be reported by means of patterns of illumination
by using any illuminators which the respective devices have.
[0133] While a case where a fingerprint data of one finger is used in the aforementioned
embodiment is described above, a plurality of fingers may be used as a fingerprint
data. In this case, it is preferable in view of facility of comparison processing
that the order of reading the respective fingers is not limited to be identical between
a time of accumulation and a time of calling.
[0134] Further, while a case where merely fingerprint matching is used in accumulation of
a balance and withdrawal of an accumulated balance is described in the above description
of the present embodiment, the other authentication method in which any mobile item
is not necessary may be used together. For example, an authenticationmethod using
password input or another may be used together. Meanwhile, in a case where password
input is used together, at a time of withdrawal of the accumulated balance, search
of the scope of fingerprint matching is refined thereby so that a period of time can
be shortened.
[0135] Still further, while a case where fingerprint authentication method is used as an
authentication for individuality is described in the above description of the present
embodiment, the other authentication method may be used. For example, veins or irises
may be used as physical characteristic peculiar to the individual players for authentication.
[0136] While the sandwiched device has functions of storing and extracting balance data
correlated with the fingerprint data in the management server in accordance with the
aforementioned present embodiment, in addition, like as sandwiched devices of prior
arts, the sandwiched device may also have functions of reading and writing balance
data on cards. By such a sandwiched device, a player can use the numeric keypad to
select either storing the balance data in the management data or writing the balance
data on his/her card and extracting the card. Since occasions to extract the card
are reduced to the extent that the data is stored in the management server, an effect
by having the functions of storing and extracting balance data correlated with the
fingerprint data in the management server (for example, reduction in the number of
card jamming) can be exhibited even in this case.
[0137] Further, while the polling scheme is applied to the communications among the management
server and the sandwiched devices in the aforementioned present embodiment, any other
schemes may be applied. For example, it may be carried out that, at a time of accumulation,
a sandwiched device request a priority of communication and the management server
arbitrates contention in communications so as to give a priority to any of the devices.
[0138] Although the invention has been described above by reference to certain embodiments
of the invention, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.
Modifications and variations of the embodiments described above will occur to those
skilled in the art, in light of the above teachings.