Patent Application
20140228109
This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-026770, filed Feb. 14, 2013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a game system or the like that is equipped with an electrical power supply function.
A game system that provides a service in which a terminal device for an individual person that can connect to a network, such as the mobile telephone network or the like, and a game machine for commercial use work together in cooperation is per se known (for example, refer to Patent Document #1).
Patent Document #1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication 2013-16889.
Sometimes it may happen that the user utilizes the personal terminal device while playing upon the game machine. When the service of cooperation with the game machine is being supplied by the personal terminal device, then utilization of the personal terminal device while the user playing upon the game machine becomes high as well as does utilization of the game machine, but in this situation there is a fear that the utilization of the personal terminal device may be hindered due to depletion of its battery. On the other hand, if simply a power-feeding device is provided, then there is a fear that a user who is not employing the game machine will take advantage of only the power-feeding device.
Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a game system etc. that is capable of controlling power-feeding of a power-feeding device in correlation with playing of a game.
The game system of the present invention is a game system that comprises a game execution device that executes a first game and a power-feeding device that feeds a device that is connected thereto, comprising: a first game execution determination device that determines whether or not the first game is being executed; and a power-feeding control device that controls a power-feeding function of the power-feeding device on a basis of the result of determination by the first game execution determination device.
The game control method of the present invention is a game control method for a game system that comprises a power-feeding device that feeds a device that is connected thereto, comprising: a game execution step of executing a first game; a first game execution determination step of determining whether or not the first game is being executed; and a power-feeding control step of controlling a power-feeding function of the power-feeding device on the basis of a result of determination by the first game execution determination step.
According to the present invention, power-feeding is controlled according as to whether or not the user is playing the first game. Due to this, it is possible to prevent utilization only of the power-feeding facility, and thus it is possible to provide an appropriate service to the user.
In one embodiment of the game system of the present invention, the game execution device charges a playing fee to a user and permits the user to play the first game; and the game execution determination device determines whether or not the first game is being executed on the basis of payment of the playing fee. According to this, the user pays a playing fee in order to pay the first game, and it is possible to permit power-feeding as an additional compensation for that payment.
In another embodiment of the game system of the present invention, the power-feeding control device performs control so as to limit a time period of power-feeding by the power-feeding device, on the basis of the result of determination by the first game execution determination device. According to this, it is possible to provide many different services by limiting the time interval during which power-feeding is allowed.
In yet another embodiment of the game system of the present invention, the connected device is a personal terminal device for an individual person. According to this, it becomes possible to perform power-feeding of a personal terminal device that is possessed by the user. As examples of such personal terminal devices, various types of computer devices that provide personal applications and that can be connected to a network may be cited, such as a mobile telephone (including a smartphone), a portable tablet type terminal device, a portable laptop type PC, and a portable type game machine and so on.
With regard to the embodiment of power-feeding the personal terminal device, the game system further comprising a power-feeding condition determination device that determines whether or not a predetermined power-feeding condition is satisfied by the personal terminal device, and wherein the power-feeding control device feeds the personal terminal device when the first game is being executed, and moreover when the personal terminal device satisfies the predetermined power-feeding condition. According to this, by also providing this power-feeding condition for the personal terminal device that needs to be fed as well, it is possible to provide an appropriate service by also imposing a condition upon the personal terminal device that is the subject for being fed.
In this embodiment, a game machine to which the power-feeding device is provided and the personal terminal device are connected together via a network, and the game machine is capable of providing a service to a user of the personal terminal device of playing a second game upon the personal terminal device; and the fact that the second game is being executed is set as the power-feeding condition. Thus, power-feeding of the personal terminal device is permitted if, while the user is playing the first game, he/she is also playing the second game upon the personal terminal device. Due to this, it is possible to encourage a user who is playing the first game, also to play the second game without worrying that the battery in his/her portable terminal device may run down. Since power-feeding is not permitted to a user who is not playing the first game, accordingly it is possible to supply a better service by appropriately restricting the subjects that can be fed.
As has been explained above, with the present invention, the power-feeding of the personal terminal device is controlled according to whether or not the user is playing the first game. Due to this, it is possible to prevent a user taking unfair advantage of only the power-feeding facility, so that it is possible to provide an appropriate service to the user.
The game machine 3 is constructed as a game machine for commercial use (i.e. for business use) that charges a predetermined playing fee and then permits a user to play. This type of game machine 3 is sometimes termed an “arcade game machine”. The game machine 3 is a game apparatus that is controlled by a computer and that is installed in a predetermined facility such as a shop 6 or the like, with the main objective of earning by enticing a large number of users to play the game repeatedly. It should be understood that an appropriate number of game machines 3, either one or more, are installed in the shop 6. While only one such game machine 3 is shown in
The applicable personal terminal devices 4 include a mobile telephone 4a (which can be a smartphone) and a portable type tablet terminal device 4b. Apart from the above, computer devices of various types that support applications aimed at individuals and that can be connected to a network, such as a portable laptop type PC or a portable type game machine and so on, are included within the possible terminal devices 4. It is possible for various services supplied by the center server 2 to be provided to the user by computer software of various kinds being implemented upon the personal terminal devices 4.
The network 5 is not limited in any particular way, provided that it is one that can connect the game machine 3 and the personal terminal devices 4 to the center server 2; a network of any appropriate structure may be employed. As one example, the network 5 may be configured to implement network communication by using the TCP/IP protocol. Typically, the network 5 may be constructed by connecting together the internet 5A (which serves as a WAN) and LANs 5B and 5C to which the center server 2 and the game machine 3 are respectively connected, via routers 5D. The personal terminal devices 4 are also connected to the internet 5A by appropriate structures. It should be understood that it would also be possible to install a local server between the game machine 3 and the router 5D of the shop 6, so that the game machine 3 and the center server 2 are connected together via this local server so as to be capable of mutual communication. The server units 2A, 2B, . . . of the center server 2 may sometimes also be mutually connected together via the WAN 5A, instead of, or as well as, by the LAN 5C being employed.
The game machine 3 and the personal terminal devices 4 are built so as to be capable of mutual communication with one another via a wireless LAN router 7. By each of the personal terminal devices 4 operating together with the game machine 3 via the wireless LAN router 7, a mobile game can be supplied on that terminal device 4 as a second game. The personal terminal device 4 of the user is registered upon the game machine 3, so that a slot game that works together with a lottery game executed by the game machine 3 can be provided to the personal terminal device 4. The wireless LAN router 7 could also be provided internally to the game machine 3. It should be understood that it would also be acceptable to arrange for the personal terminal device 4 to be registered upon the center server 2. Any per se known structure that is appropriate may be employed, provided that it is compatible with the game machine 3 and with the personal terminal device 4.
The structure of the game machine 3 will now be explained with reference to
Games of a plurality of types are supplied by the game machine 3, and progress according to the options that are repeatedly chosen at random by the lottery mechanism 11 of the center unit CN. It should be understood that, in some cases, the games that can be played by the game machine 3 will be referred to as “arcade games”, and these are examples of a first game. The lottery mechanism 11 can randomly choose one number from a plurality of possible options, which in this case are the numbers 1 through 25. On the other hand, in the games that can be played on the station units ST, the progression of the games changes by changing of blocks or panels that are linked to the numbers thus chosen at random. For example, a plurality of games such as a block deletion game or a bingo game or the like may be provided by the station units ST. The user selects a plurality of games that he/she desires to play, and is able to play the games that he/she has selected in parallel while the chance game is being executed. As one example, games of five types may be provided by the station units ST, and the user is able to select three of those games and play them in parallel. The user bets one or more medals in each game, and prizes of various sorts, such as allotments of medals or items or the like, are awarded according to the results of the games. Explanation of the rules of the various games will here be omitted. Per se known games may be provided.
Here, in this embodiment, the fact that a mobile game provided from the game machine 3 to the personal terminal device 4 is being played is set as the power-feeding condition. A mobile game can be played by an application that is installed upon the personal terminal device 4 being executed. The progression of the mobile game upon the personal terminal device 4 is controlled by arcade game data 52 for the game that is in progress upon the game machine 3 being received from the game machine 3.
While data of various types is stored in the storage unit 22, one such type of data is play data 51, as shown in
The game service management unit 21 provides predetermined game services to the game machine 3 and to the personal terminal device 4. Examples of such game services, for example, are the service of authenticating users by receiving user authentication identification (for example, unique identification number and a password from each user) from the game machines 3, storing play data 51 received from the game machine 3 corresponding to those users in the storage unit 22, and supplying user play data 51 stored in the storage unit 22 to the game machines 3, a service of updating software for the game machines 3 (a program or data for playing) via the network 5, and so on. The same holds for the personal terminal device 4, instead of the game machine 3.
A game control unit 31, a power-feeding management unit 32, and a storage unit 33 are provided to each of the station units ST of the game machine 3. It should be understood that, while a control unit and a storage unit are also provided to the center unit CN of the game machine 3, these are omitted from
The display device 12, the touch panel 13, and a card reader 34 for reading in information upon the card 35 upon which user identification information is recorded and for outputting a signal corresponding to that information to the game control unit 31 are connected to the game control unit 31. A non-volatile storage medium such as an IC chip or a magnetic stripe is provided upon the card 35, and a unique ID for each card (sometimes termed the “card ID”) and so on are recorded upon that medium. The card ID is used as information for the center server 2 to identify the user of the game machine 3. Playing data 51 that is recorded in the storage unit 22 of the center server 2 in correspondence to the card ID of the user is recorded in the storage unit 32 of the game machine 3. And arcade game data 52 in which is recorded data related to the results of random choice in the lottery game executed by the center unit CN is recorded in the storage unit 22. According to requirements, the game control unit 31 transmits this arcade game data 52 to the personal terminal device 4 that is currently registered.
A mobile service processing unit 41 and a storage unit 42 are provided to the personal terminal device 4. The mobile service processing unit 41 is a logical device that is implemented upon the personal terminal device 4 as a combination of computer hardware and software. Processing related to the mobile game described above is executed by the mobile service processing unit 41. And the storage unit 42 is an external storage device that is implemented as a storage unit such as a hard disk array or the like. A display device 43 and an input device 44 are connected to the mobile service processing unit 41. As one example, the input device 44 may be of a per se known type consisting of a touch panel that is provided to a smartphone. Or, instead of a touch panel, the input device 44 may consist of a plurality of buttons that are provided to a mobile telephone or the like. When the user actuates the input device 44 and performs input of his/her user ID, play data 51 that has been recorded in the storage unit 22 of the center server 2 is recorded in the storage unit 42 of the personal terminal device 4. Moreover, according to the progression of the game on the game machine 3, arcade game data 52 is transmitted from the game machine 3 to the storage unit 42, and is recorded therein.
When the mobile service processing unit 41 of the personal terminal device 4 sends a communication request to the game machine 3 (in the step S1), the game control unit 31 of the game machine 3 acquires user terminal information for the personal terminal device 4 that issued the communication request (in the step S11). When making this communication request, the mobile service processing unit 41 may transmit its own user terminal information. The game control unit 31 updates the arcade game data (in the step S12). And the game control unit 31 establishes communication with this personal terminal device 4 (in the step S13), and notifies the personal terminal device 4 of the fact that communication has started. The game control unit 31 may make the necessary settings for this establishment of communication by utilizing any appropriate per se known technique.
Via the wireless LAN router 7, the mobile service processing unit 41 of the personal terminal device 4 starts communication as established by the game control unit 31 (in the step S2). A per se known technique may be employed for this establishment of communication. When the user executes the application for the mobile game, the mobile services processing unit 41 requests game data needed for the progression of the mobile game from the game machine 3 (in the step S3), and the game control unit 31 of the game machine 3 extracts the necessary game data from the arcade game data 52 and transmits that data to the personal terminal device 4 (in the step S14). And execution of the game is continued by the mobile service processing unit 41 on the basis of this game data that it has acquired (in the step S4).
The game control unit 31 of the game machine 3 determines whether or not a medal has been inserted (in the step S22). It will be acceptable to arrange for this insertion of a medal to be an actual direct insertion of a medal into the game machine 3; or it would also be possible for it to be implemented by a deduction of an amount of money corresponding to a number of medals that the user wishes to use from an account that is linked to the user ID. Such a method of settlement by electronic cash may employ any appropriate per se known technique. When a medal has been inserted, the game control unit 31 executes the arcade game (in the step S23). As the arcade game, the game control unit 31 may execute any of various types of game that depend upon the random choice result of the lottery game executed by the center unit CN, such as a bingo game or the like.
The game control unit 31 determines whether or not the user is playing the mobile game (in the step S24). For example, the game control unit 31 may determine that the user is playing the mobile game because of the arrival of a request for game data due to the step S3 of
According to the processing described above, when the user plays the arcade game on the game machine 3 (in the steps S21 through S23), and plays the mobile game upon the personal terminal device 4, then, if the personal terminal device 4 satisfies the power-feeding condition (in the step S24), the power-feeding limitation of the station unit ST upon which the user is playing is removed (in the step S25), and power-feeding is permitted during the power-feeding interval (in the steps S26 and S27).
In the processing described above, the processing of the step S22 executed by the game control unit 31 of the game machine 3 corresponds to the first game execution determination device, the processing of the step S23 corresponds to the game execution device, and the processing of the step S24 corresponds to the power-feeding condition determination device. Moreover, the processing of the steps S25 through S27 executed by the power-feeding management unit 32 of the game machine 3 corresponds to the power-feeding control device.
The present invention is not to be considered as being limited to the embodiment described above; various other forms for its implementation may be adopted. For example while, in this embodiment, the explanation has been made in terms of the device which is to be fed being a personal terminal device 4, this is not necessarily limitative of the present invention. For example it would be possible, with the present invention, to feed any compact device that can be fed via USB, such as a table-top fan, a blanket, a cup warmer, or the like. It would be possible to perform power-feeding only during a predetermined power-feeding interval when the arcade game is being played, and it would also be possible not to perform power-feeding when the mobile game is not being played. It would be possible for the user to change the device that is connected according to his/her wishes, provided that it is compatible with the USB port 14, and it is possible to perform power-feeding of devices of various types. The utilization of power-feeding power may be left to the wishes of the user. Moreover, it would also be acceptable to arrange to vary the power-feeding interval according to the result of playing the arcade game or the mobile game.
While, in the embodiment described above, an example has been explained in which playing of the mobile game is set up as being the condition for power-feeding, this is not necessarily limitative of the present invention. For example, it would also be acceptable for the fact that the personal terminal device 4 has executed the processing of the step S1 of
While, in the embodiment described above, whether or not the first game is being executed is determined in the processing of the step S22 of
While, in the embodiment described above, the power-feeding control procedure was executed by the game machine 3, this is not necessarily limitative of the present invention. It could also be executed by the control unit of the center server 2 or by the control unit of the personal terminal device 4 (i.e., by the game service management unit 21 or by the mobile service processing unit 41). Via communication, control of the power-feeding device 36 could be performed by any computer unit included in the game system 1. Moreover, it would also be acceptable for the power-feeding device 36 to be provided separately from the game machine 3. Furthermore while, in the embodiment described above, it was determined whether or not the arcade game was being executed, and the power-feeding function was controlled on the basis of the result of this determination, this is not to be considered as being limitative. It would also be acceptable to determine whether or not the mobile game is being executed, and to control the power-feeding function on the basis of the result of this determination. In this case, it would be possible for the power-feeding device 36 not to be provided to the game machine 3. Yet further, it would be possible to determine whether or not the mobile game is being executed, for example, by the processing of the step S1 and of the step S3 of
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-026770 | Feb 2013 | JP | national |
