Patent Grant
12236738
The present invention relates to a management server which manages currency handling systems each of which includes a currency reading device in which a variety of currencies are available.
A known currency reading device (Bill Validator) provided at a gaming machine receives only currency of the country in which the gaming machine is provided, and is able to distinguish the face value (see Patent Literatures 1 to 2).
However, with increase of travelers and sojourners from foreign countries, gaming machines are increasingly required to accept foreign currencies. As such, gaming machines are required to accept foreign currencies.
However, when a variety of currencies are available, it makes management and maintenance laborious to accept a variety of currencies in all gaming machines. In addition to that, a season in which the number of players is large (because of, e.g., difference of holidays between countries) and a time period at which the number of staying players is large in a day are not constant. Therefore, in some cases it is required to change the areas of gaming machines in which foreign currencies are available and the number of gaming machines, between seasons or times of a day.
An object of the present invention is to provide a management server which solves the above-described problems.
The present invention is a management server which is connected, through a communication line, to currency handling systems each including a currency reading device in which a variety of currencies are available,
each of the currency handling systems being associated with any of areas,
the management server includes:
an input unit which allows selection of an area from among the areas and a currency from among the variety of the currencies;
a transmitter which is configured to send a command to the currency handling systems; and
a controller which is programmed to perform processes of:
(a) receiving a selection of an area from among the areas and a selection of a currency from among the variety of the currencies, by the input unit; and
(b) sending a command of causing a process of allowing usage of the selected currency to be performed from the transmitter to one currency handling system, in a case in which a currency read by the currency reading device corresponds to the selected currency and the currency reading device that read the currency corresponds to the selected area.
By the above-described structure, when a lot of currency handling systems in each of which a variety of currencies are available are used, it is possible to freely set areas in which a selected currency is available and areas in which the selected currency is unavailable.
The present invention is the management server, and the input unit further allows selection of a money type from among a variety of money types, and, the controller is programmed to perform processes of:
(a) receiving a selection of an area from among the areas, a selection of a currency from among the variety of the currencies, and a selection of a money type from among the variety of the money types, by the input unit; and
(b) sending a command of causing a process of allowing usage of the selected money type of the selected currency to be performed from the transmitter to one currency handling system, in a case in which a currency read in the currency reading device corresponds to the selected money type of the selected currency and the currency reading device that read the currency corresponds to the selected area.
By the above-described structure, when a lot of currency handling systems in each of which a variety of currencies are available are used, it is possible to freely set areas in which a selected money type of a selected currency is available and areas in which the selected money type of the selected currency is unavailable.
The present invention is the management server,
each of the currency handling systems is mounted in a gaming machine which awards a payout based on a game result and a bet of a currency, and
the areas are distinguished from one another based on the minimum of an amount of a currency which is betted at the gaming machine.
By the above-described structure, because areas are distinguished from one another based on the minimum of an amount of a currency which is betted, it is possible to select both group of areas based on the minimum of the betted amount in a case in which areas in which a predetermined currency is available and the areas in which predetermined currency is unavailable are set.
The following will describe a casino system including a slot machine management server 1 of the present embodiment with reference to figures. In this regard, the slot machine management server 1 corresponds to a management server of the present invention, and is connected through a communication line with a currency handling system 100 (currency reading device 201 and PTS terminal 700) mounted at a slot machine 4S.
(Casino System)
As shown in
The gaming machine 4 includes a device which is able to perform or support a game (e.g., support of progress of a game and support of calculation of a payout). In the game, a payout may be awarded based on a betted gaming value and a game result. The gaming machine 4 further includes a device which is embedded in or provided to be adjacent to a playing table of baccarat or porker, which is a game controlled by a human player. In this regard, the gaming value is electrically valuable information in which a currency amount is exchanged into electronic money, etc. The gaming value in the disclosure is not limited to this, and for example a gaming medium such as a medal, a token, a coin, or a ticket or the like may be used. The ticket is not particularly limited, and for example, a barcoded ticket may be used. The barcoded ticket has data of, e.g., a credit amount in the form of bar code. Alternatively, the gaming value may be a game point which does not include valuable information.
As shown in
For example, the area A is provided with slot machines 4S which are of a type Y, in which the minimum bet (the minimum bet amount to start a game) is set to be lower than the minimum bet in the area B. The area B is provided with the slot machines 4S which are of the type Y, in which the minimum bet is set to be higher than the minimum bet in the area A. The area C is provided with slot machines 4S which are of a type Z, in which the minimum bet is set to be lower than the minimum bet in the area D. The area D is provided with the slot machines 4S which are of the type Z, in which the minimum bet is set to be higher than the minimum bet in the area C. The area E is provided with slot machines 4S, in which the minimum bet is set to be the highest among the minimum bets among the gaming facility 15. The area F is provided with slot machines 4S which are used exclusively for VIP members. The area G is provided with slot machines 4S which are of a type X, in which the minimum bet is set to be higher than the minimum bet in the area H. The area H is provided with the slot machines 4S which are of the type X, in which the minimum bet is set to be lower than the minimum bet in the area G.
In this regard, it is possible to arrange areas of each gaming facility at will, e.g., which slot machine 4S is associated with each area and for what reason each area is provided. For example, areas may correspond to respective types of games or manufacturers, areas may be classified based on values of minimum bets or based on available currencies, or one area may be associated with one slot machine 4S.
In the present embodiment, the currency reading device 201 is mounted in a slot machine 4S (gaming machine 4) which awards a payout based on a game result and a bet of a gaming value (currency), and areas are distinguished from one another based on the minimum (minimum bet: bet amount necessary to start a single game) of an amount (currency amount) of a gaming value which is betted at the slot machine 4S. Because of this, when areas in which a predetermined currency is available and areas in which the predetermined currency is unavailable are set, both groups of areas are selected based on the minimum bet.
(Structure of Slot Machine Management Server 1)
As shown in
(Structure of Casino Management System 2)
As shown in
The center controller 401 of the casino management system 2 plays a role of sending information of the exchange rate which is stored in the storage unit 402 to the currency handling system 100 (PTS terminal 700) in a case in which a banknote T read by the currency reading device 201 is determined as a foreign currency in the PTS terminal 700. In this casino management system 2, the exchange rate referred by the entire casino system is managed. This exchange rate is updated by manual input of a person in charge of the casino management system 2 at a predetermined time (AM 6:00).
(Slot Machine 4S)
In the present embodiment, the slot machine 4S will be described as an example of a gaming machine 4 which is provided with the currency handling system 100 (PTS terminal 700 and currency reading device 201). A device corresponding to the currency handling system 100 is also mounted at each of, e.g., the baccarat game table 4B, the roulette game machine 4R, and the poker game machine 4P which are managed by the table game management server 1A.
As shown in
(Currency Reading Device 201)
As shown in
In the currency reading device 201 of the present embodiment, not only a banknote T of PHP (peso) but also banknotes T of plural foreign currencies (USD, US dollar; JPY, Japanese yen; CNY, yuan; HKD, Hong Kong dollar; EUR, euro; MOP, Macanese pataca; AUD, Australian dollar) are available. PHP (peso) is set as a local currency.
As shown in
The CPU 210 receives detection signals, through the I/O port 220, from sensors such as an insertion detection sensor 7, a movable piece passing detection sensor 12, a banknote reading sensor 8, a discharge detection sensor 18, a magnetic sensor 140, and a pressing plate detection sensor 23. The insertion detection sensor 7 detects a banknote T inserted into the banknote insertion slot 5. The movable piece passing detection sensor 12 detects being passed through a predetermined position of the banknote conveyance mechanism 206. The banknote reading sensor 8 reads information of the banknote T which is being conveyed. The discharge detection sensor 18 detects the banknote T being discharged into the banknote accommodation unit 202. The magnetic sensor 140 detects whether banknotes T which are laminated and accustomed in the banknote accommodation unit 202 reach a predetermined number. The pressing plate detection sensor 23 can detect a position of a pressing plate which presses banknotes T in the banknote accommodation unit 202. Based on these detection signals, the drive control of the banknote conveyance mechanism 206, etc., is performed. To the I/O port 220, a communication interface 91 is connected. The communication interface 91 is connected to a smart interface board 710 of the PTS terminal 700 so as to enable data communication with the PTS terminal 700.
The insertion detection sensor 7 generates a detection signal when detecting a banknote T inserted into the banknote insertion slot 5. While the insertion detection sensor 7 is an optical sensor such as a retro-reflective photo sensor, the insertion detection sensor 7 may be constituted by a mechanical sensor.
The movable piece passing detection sensor 12 generates a detection signal when detecting that a distal end of the banknote T has passed through the predetermined position of the banknote conveyance mechanism 206, and is provided upstream of the banknote reading sensor 8. This movable piece passing detection sensor 12 is also constituted by an optical sensor or a mechanical sensor, in the same manner as the insertion detection sensor 7.
The banknote reading sensor 8 reads banknote information of the banknote T conveyed by the banknote conveyance mechanism 206. In this regard, the banknote information which is read by the banknote reading sensor 8 is compared to reference data stored in the ROM 212, and the followings are determined: which country or region a currency belongs to; the money type (amount of the banknote T); and whether the banknote T is valid.
The discharge detection sensor 18 detects that a rear end of the banknote T has passed through and that the banknote T has been discharged into the banknote accommodation unit 202, and is provided immediately upstream of the banknote accommodation unit 202. This discharge detection sensor 18 is also constituted by an optical sensor or a mechanical sensor in the same manner as the insertion detection sensor 7.
In the ROM 212, the following sets of data are stored: programs such as an actuation program of the banknote conveyance mechanism 206 and a verification program regarding the banknote T which is read by the banknote reading sensor 8; and permanent data. The CPU 210 generates a control signal based on the programs stored in the ROM 212, sends and receives signals to and from the banknote conveyance mechanism 206 and the like through the I/O port 220, and performs the drive control of the banknote conveyance mechanism 206 and the like. The ROM 212 further stores, regarding the inserted banknote T, reference data used for determining which country or region a currency belongs to, the money type (amount of the banknote T), and the validity of the banknote T. For example, sets of data obtained from the entire print region of a valid banknote T (e.g., data regarding light and shade and data regarding transmitted light and reflected light when infrared light is applied to a valid banknote T) are stored. The RAM 214 stores data and a program used in operation of the CPU 210.
(Slot Machine Controller 300)
The slot machine controller 300 includes a game controller 302 which controls a process performed by the slot machine 4S, and the communication interface 301 which enables data communication with the PTS terminal 700 (see
To be more specific, the game controller 302 runs a slot game which awards a payout based on a betted gaming value and a game result. In this slot game, twenty symbols determined randomly are displayed on a symbol display area which is formed of twenty areas forming a matrix with, e.g., five columns and four rows. In addition to that, a payout is awarded based on a displayed symbol combination (game result) and a betted gaming value.
(PTS Terminal 700)
As shown in
The LCD displays an effect image used for an effect in a game, information when there is a payout as a game result, and a current exchange rate of each foreign currency. The touch panel is provided on the LCD to cause the PTS terminal 700 to function as an input device capable of receiving input from the outside. The human detection camera detects the presence of a player by a camera function. The microphone is used for allowing a player to participate in a game through input of player's voice and for authenticating a player by voice recognition. The speaker performs effects in a game by sound, and outputs various types of notification sound. The card insertion slot has a mechanism which allows an IC card such as a member card of a player of a game to be inserted and removed. The smart interface board 710 connected to the above-described components is a control board configured to control the components, and controls sending and receiving of signals to and from the outside. The storage unit 711 (ROM and RAM) is connected to the smart interface board 710, and makes it possible to store various information such as an exchange rate of each foreign currency.
The PTS terminal 700 is arranged to perform mediation in data communications between devices in the slot machine management server 1, the currency reading device 201, and the slot machine controller 300. Specifically, the currency reading device 201 sends the banknote information of a banknote T, which is received from the bill entry 22, to the PTS terminal 700. The PTS terminal 700 associates the received banknote information with area information showing where the slot machine 4S belongs to, and sends the associated information to the slot machine management server 1 and the casino management system 2 via the slot machine management server 1. As described above, the PTS terminal 700 performs mediation of data communication from the currency reading device 201 to the slot machine management server 1 and data communication from the currency reading device 201 to the slot machine controller 300.
The PTS terminal 700 calculates and exchanges (replaces) a foreign currency received by the currency reading device 201 into a local currency (PHP, peso) based on information of an exchange rate which is obtained from the casino management system 2. The LCD of the PTS terminal 700 makes it possible to display a current exchange rate of a currency of each country. In this regard, the LCD displays the timing of update (changing) of the exchange rate (for example, the LCD displays update time (AM 6:00) of the exchange rate).
(Process Related to Settings for Using Currencies)
The following will describe a process with reference to
At the same time, the following will describe a process which limits usage of a $100 bill of the USA banknote against gaming machines 4 placed at the areas E to H in a case in which information of the circulation of counterfeit US $100 bills of a foreign currency is acquired from the outside of the casino system. In the slot machines 4S placed at the areas E to H, other foreign currencies are still available.
To begin with, when a person in charge of the casino management system 2 obtains information regarding the circulation of the counterfeit US $100 bills (hereinafter, counterfeit bill information) from an international organization, an administrative organization (police), and a management department, etc., the person in charge of the casino management system 2 notifies the administrator of the slot machine management server 1 of the circulation of the counterfeit bill information from the casino management system 2.
For example, when the administrator of the slot machine management server 1 grasps the counterfeit bill information from the person in charge of the casino management system 2 by a mail displayed on the display unit 105 as shown in
For the slot machines 4S placed at the areas A to D among the areas A to H of the gaming facility 15 in the present embodiment, the administrator performs settings which limit the usage of a foreign currency but allow the usage of only a local currency (PHP, peso). For the slot machines 4S placed at the areas E to H among the areas A to H of the gaming facility 15, the administrator performs settings which allow the usage of foreign currencies, i.e., USD (US dollar), JPY (Japanese yen), CNY (yuan), and HKD (Hong Kong dollar) in addition to a local currency (PHP, peso), and limit the usage of the $100 bill of the USA banknote for which the counterfeit bill information is acquired.
The administrator firstly selects, by a cursor 520, a “selected area 1” of a selecting area screen 507 (see
Then, the administrator selects the areas A to D from among the areas A to H of the map of the gaming facility 15, which is displayed on the display unit 105. After the areas A to D are selected, a Next button 505 is selected to cause the shift to the status window 502 of
Subsequently, the administrator selects the “selected area 1” by the cursor 520, and then the Next button 505 is selected to cause the shift to an available currency selection screen 508 of the “selected area 1” of
Subsequently, the administrator selects the Next button 505 to cause the shift to an available money type selection screen 509 of the “selected area 1” of
Next, the administrator selects a “selected area 2” of the selecting area screen 507 (see
Subsequently, the administrator selects the “selected area 2” by the cursor 520, and then the Next button 505 is selected to cause the shift to the available currency selection screen 508 of the “selected area 2” of
Subsequently, the administrator selects the Next button 505 to cause the shift to an available money type selection screen 509 of the “selected area 2” of
Then, when the administrator selects a completion button 521, a confirmation screen (not illustrated) is displayed. After the confirmation is accepted, the settings for using currencies are completed.
On the status window 502 (see
(Available Currency Management Process)
The following will describe an available currency management process performed in the slot machine management server 1, with reference to a flowchart of
To begin with, the above-described settings for using currencies are performed by the input unit 104 (S101: input process). Subsequently, the center controller 101 determines whether the settings for using currencies are completed in the input process (S102). If the settings for using currencies have not been completed (NO in S102), completion of the settings for using currencies is waited.
Meanwhile, if the settings for using currencies have been completed (YES in S102), the settings for using currencies which are stored in the storage unit 102 are updated (S103). For example, when the areas A to D (“selected area 1”; see
In the slot machine management server 1 with the arrangement above, for example, when (i) the areas E to H (selected area 2) are selected as arbitrary areas from among the areas A to H, (ii) PHP (peso), USD (US dollar), JPY (Japanese yen), CNY (yuan), and HKD (Hong Kong dollar) are selected as arbitrary currencies from among a variety of currencies, and (iii) 1000 pesos, 500 pesos, 200 pesos, 100 pesos, 50 pesos, and 20 pesos of PHP (peso), 50 dollars, 20 dollars, and 10 dollars of USD (US dollar), 10000 yen, 5000 yen, and 1000 yen of JPY (Japanese yen), 100 yuan, 50 yuan, 20 yuan, and 10 yuan of CNY (yuan), and 500 dollars, 100 dollars, 50 dollars, 20 dollars, and 10 dollars of HKD (Hong Kong dollar) are selected as arbitrary money types from among a variety of money types by the input unit 104, a process which allows the usage of the selected money types of the selected currencies is performable only for each of currency handling systems 100 mounted in the slot machines 4S provided performable at the selected areas E to H, through the communication interface 103 of the slot machine management server 1. Because of this, even in a gaming facility 15 provided with a lot of currency handling systems 100 in each of which a variety of currencies are available, it is possible to freely set areas in which selected money types of selected currencies are available and areas in which the selected money types of the selected currencies are unavailable.
In this regard, when the settings for using currencies are updated in the step S103, information of the settings for using currencies is sent to PTS terminals 700 at the area where the settings have been done, and kinds of available and unavailable currencies and money types are updated to be displayable on LCDs of the PTS terminals 700 or on display devices of the slot machines 4S. Alternatively, on LCDs of the PTS terminals 700 or on the display devices of the slot machines 4S, only kinds of available currencies and money types may be displayed and kinds of unavailable currencies and money types may not be displayed.
(Banknote Receiving Process)
A banknote receiving process will be described with reference to a flowchart of
To begin with, the CPU 210 determines whether a valid banknote T is inserted from the bill entry 22 (S201). If a valid banknote T has not been inserted (NO in S201), the CPU 210 performs the step S201 again and waits for the insertion of a valid banknote T.
Meanwhile, if a valid banknote T has been inserted (YES in S201), the CPU 210 obtains banknote information of the inserted banknote T based on a signal from the banknote reading sensor 8 (S202). To be more specific, the followings are obtained as the banknote information: a kind of the inserted banknote T (currency such as PHP, peso; USD, US dollar; JPY, Japanese Yen; CNY, yuan; HKD, Hong Kong dollar; EUR, euro; MOP, Macanese pataca; AUD, Australian dollar); and a money type of the banknote T (e.g., monetary amount such as $100 banknote, $50 banknote, $20 banknote, and $10 banknote, etc., in USD; US dollar).
Subsequently, the CPU 210 sends the banknote information which has been obtained in the step S202 to the PTS terminal 700. The PTS terminal 700 which has received the banknote information sends a banknote information signal to the slot machine management server 1 (S203). The banknote information signal is a signal in which the received banknote information is associated with area information showing to which area the slot machine 4S belongs. In this regard, the banknote information signal is a signal which is sent from the PTS terminal 700 to the casino management system 2, the slot machine management server 1, and the slot machine controller 300, etc. This banknote information signal is formed in such a way that the above-described banknote information, read from the banknote T by the banknote reading sensor 8, is associated with area information. The area information shows to which area the slot machine 4S, including the currency reading device 201 which has read the banknote T, belongs.
In this regard, when the slot machine management server 1 receives a banknote information signal (details thereof will be described later), whether the currency of the banknote indicated by the signal is an available currency is determined based on the received banknote information signal and the settings, stored in the slot machine management server 1, for using currencies (information of areas in which the settings for using currencies are performed, information of currencies which are set to be available or unavailable, and information of money types which are set to be available or unavailable). If it is an available currency, a use permission signal is sent to the currency reading device 201 through the PTS terminal 700 of the slot machine 4S which has sent the banknote information signal. Meanwhile, if it is an unavailable currency, a non-permission signal is sent to the currency reading device 201 through the PTS terminal 700 of the slot machine 4S which has sent the banknote information signal.
Subsequently, the CPU 210 determines whether a use permission signal sent through the PTS terminal 700 from the slot machine management server 1 is received (S204). If a use permission signal has not been received (NO in S204), the CPU 210 determines whether a non-permission signal sent through the PTS terminal 700 from the slot machine management server 1 is received (S205). In addition to that, if a non-permission signal has not been received (NO in S205), the step S204 is performed again.
Meanwhile, if a non-permission signal has been received (YES in S205), the inserted banknote T is discharged from the bill entry 22 (S206: discharge process). For example, a banknote T is inserted into a slot machine 4S provided at the area E, and EUR (euro) is not selected on the available currency selection screen 508 of the selected area 2 of
If the use permission signal has been received in the step S204 (YES in S204), the CPU 210 conveys the inserted banknote T to a banknote accommodation unit 202 and stores the inserted banknote T (S207). For example, a banknote T is inserted into the slot machine 4S provided at the area E, and $50 banknote and $20 banknote and $10 banknote of USD are selected on the available money type selection screen 509 of the selected area 2 of
Subsequently, the CPU 210 sends the banknote information which has been obtained in the step S202 to the PTS terminal 700 (S208).
(Usage Checking Process)
A usage checking process will be described with reference to a flowchart of
To begin with, the center controller 101 determines whether the banknote information signal having been sent from the PTS terminal 700 in the step S203 of the banknote receiving process described above is received (S301). If the banknote information signal has not been received (NO in S301), supply of the signal is waited.
Meanwhile, if the banknote information signal has been received (YES in S301), the center controller 101 performs an unavailable currency reference process (S302). In this unavailable currency reference process, banknote information (kind of the inserted banknote T, currency; and money type of the inserted banknote T) of the received banknote information signal and area information (information of the area where the slot machine 4S including the PTS terminal 700 which has sent the banknote information signal is provided) associated with the banknote information are compared with the settings for using currencies, stored in the storage unit 102. (The settings for using currencies are information of areas in which the settings for using currencies are performed, information of currencies which are set to be available or unavailable, and information of money types which are set to be available or unavailable.)
As a result of the unavailable currency reference process, when the slot machine 4S including the PTS terminal 700 which has sent the banknote information signal corresponds to the area in which the settings for using currencies are performed, the center controller 101 determines whether the banknote T inserted into the currency reading device 201 mounted in the slot machine 4S which has sent the banknote information signal is an unavailable banknote whose money type of a currency is set to be unavailable (S303). Meanwhile, if it has been determined that the inserted banknote T is an unavailable banknote whose money type of a currency is set to be unavailable (YES in S303), a non-permission signal is sent to the currency reading device 201 through the PTS terminal 700 of the slot machine 4S which has sent the banknote information signal (S304).
Meanwhile, if it has been determined that the inserted banknote T is not an unavailable banknote whose money type of a currency is set to be unavailable (NO in S303), a use permission signal is sent to the currency reading device 201 through the PTS terminal 700 of the slot machine 4S which has sent the banknote information signal (S305). Then, this process is terminated.
In the slot machine management server 1 with the arrangement above, for example, when the areas A to D (selected area 1) are selected as arbitrary areas from among the areas A to H and only banknotes of a local currency (PHP, peso) are selected (see
(Banknote Information Receiving Process)
A banknote information receiving process will be described with reference to a flowchart of
To begin with, the smart interface board 710 determines whether the banknote information which has been sent from the currency reading device 201 is received (S401). If the banknote information has not been received (NO in S401), supply of the banknote information is waited.
Meanwhile, if the banknote information has been received (YES in S401), the smart interface board 710 determines whether a kind of a banknote T which is read from the banknote information is a foreign currency, i.e., whether it is one of currencies except PHP (peso) of a local currency (S402). In the present embodiment, USD (US dollar), JPY (Japanese yen), CNY (yuan), and HKD (Hong Kong dollar), etc., are foreign currencies.
If information indicating the kind of the banknote T which is read from the banknote information has been determined as one of foreign currencies (YES in S402), the smart interface board 710 performs an exchange rate obtain process (S403). In this exchange rate obtain process, the casino management system 2 is accessed (asked) through the slot machine management server 1 from the PTS terminal 700, and an exchange rate is obtained. The exchange rate is stored in the storage unit 402 of the casino management system 2, and corresponds to the foreign currency which is the type read from the banknote information. For example, when the foreign currency which is the type read from the banknote information is US dollar, an exchange rate is obtained. The exchange rate (“USD/PHP”) regulates an exchange ratio which is used for exchanging US dollar of a foreign currency into PHP (peso) of a local currency. In this regard, the obtained exchange rate is stored in the storage unit 711.
Subsequently, the smart interface board 710 calculates and exchanges (replaces) a money type (monetary amount) of the foreign currency into a monetary amount of a local currency (PHP, peso) with reference to the exchange rate which has been obtained in the step S403 (S404). In this regard, the foreign currency is the type read from the banknote information.
In this step, the exchange rate of a currency of each country which is stored in the storage unit 402 of the casino management system 2 is an exchange ratio from a foreign currency which is available in the gaming machine 4 (e.g., slot machine 4S which is managed by the slot machine management server 1, and baccarat game table 4B and roulette game table 4R which are managed by the table game management server 1A) provided in the gaming facility 15 to a local currency (PHP, peso), and is updated by manual input from the input unit 404 at every predetermined time. The manual input is made by the person in charge of the casino management system 2 who has obtained information of the exchange rate from the outside. In the present embodiment, at every predetermined time (e.g., AM 6:00), the person in charge of the casino management system 2 grasps the latest information of the exchange rate of each foreign currency and manually updates the exchange rate of a currency of each country which is stored in the storage unit 402. In this regard, the update of the exchange rate may be performed at a wide variety of timing in accordance with a kind of the currency. In the present embodiment, the update of the exchange rate in the casino management system 2 is manually performed. Alternatively, the exchange rate in the casino management system 2 may be automatically updated by automatically obtaining exchange rates from the outside. Alternatively, instead of the predetermined time, the exchange rate may be adjusted to an exchange rate which varies in real time. Information of the exchange rate is sent to a PTS terminal 700 of each slot machine 4S through the slot machine management server 1. Because of this, a PTS terminal 700 which has obtained the exchange rate is able to display a current exchange rate of a currency of each country onto an LCD.
In the step S404, for example, when an exchange rate “USD/PHP” obtained from the casino management system 2 is “53. 100” (one US dollar is exchanged into 53. 100 pesos) and a money type (monetary amount) of a foreign currency is a $10 banknote of USD, it is calculated and exchanged into 531 pesos of a local currency. In this regard, the foreign currency is the type read from the banknote information.
Meanwhile, if it is determined that the kind of the banknote T which has been read from the banknote information in the step S402 is not one of foreign currencies (i.e., determined as PHP, peso, of local currency; NO in S402), or after the step S404, the smart interface board 710 performs a credit information signal sending process (S405). In this credit information signal sending process, when the kind of the banknote T which has been read from the banknote information in the step S402 is PHP (peso) of a local currency, a monetary amount of the money type is sent to the slot machine controller 300 as a credit information signal. For example, when the kind of the banknote T which has been read from the banknote information in the step S402 is 500 pesos of a local currency, the 500 pesos are sent to the slot machine controller 300 as a credit information signal. When a foreign currency has been calculated and exchanged into a local currency, i.e., into PHP (peso) in the step S404, the exchanged monetary amount of the local currency is sent to the slot machine controller 300 as a credit information signal. For example, when a $10 banknote of USD has been calculated and exchanged into 531 pesos of a local currency in the step S404, the 531 pesos are sent to the slot machine controller 300 as a credit information signal. After that, the step S401 is performed again.
(Slot Game Running Process)
A flowchart of a slot game running process will be described with reference to
To begin with, the game controller 302 determines whether a credit information signal is received from the PTS terminal 700 (S501). If a credit information signal has been received (YES in S501), the game controller 302 adds a monetary amount (PHP, peso, of local currency) based on the credit information signal to an owned credit counter of a RAM (S502). The owned credit counter of the RAM shows a monetary amount which is owned by a player.
After the step S502, or if a credit information signal has not been received (NO in S501), the game controller 302 performs a game process (S503). In this game process, a slot game is performed by a player. The slot game awards a payout based on a betted monetary amount (amount which is betted from the owned credit counter) and a game result. In this slot game, twenty symbols randomly determined are displayed on a symbol display area which is formed of twenty areas forming a matrix with, e.g., five columns and four rows. In addition to that, a payout is awarded based on a displayed symbol combination (game result) and a betted monetary amount.
The awarded payout is added to the owned credit counter (S504). In this regard, e.g., information based on a game result is sent to the slot machine management server 1 through the PTS terminal 700, and managed in the slot machine management server 1.
In the embodiment described above, the administrator of the slot machine management server 1 performs the settings for using currencies by manual input with the input unit 104 and the currency management software. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. When the counterfeit bill information is received from the outside such as the casino management system 2, the slot machine management server 1 may automatically perform the settings for using currencies based on the counterfeit bill information.
In the present embodiment described above, the currency handling system 100 is embedded in the gaming machine 4 such as the slot machine 4S. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. Alternatively, the currency handling system 100 may be a terminal device connected to an external apparatus such as a money exchanger, a vending machine, and a ticket machine. Alternatively, the currency handling system 100 may not be embedded in the terminal device. While in the present embodiment the currency handling system 100 is provided for each gaming machine 4, one currency handling system 100 may be provided for plural gaming machines 4.
In the embodiment described above, if the settings for using currencies have been completed (YES in S102), the settings for using currencies which are stored in the storage unit 102 are updated. In other words, the settings for using currencies are managed in the slot machine management server 1. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. The contents of the settings, set in the slot machine management server 1, for using currencies may be sent to the PTS terminal 700 and may be stored and managed in the storage unit 711. Because of this, in the storage unit 711 of the PTS terminal 700, the settings for using currencies (e.g., information of currencies which are set to be available or unavailable, information of money types which are set to be available or unavailable, and information of areas in which the settings for using currencies are performed) are updated. In this case, the usage checking process (see
The exchange rates may be managed in the slot machine management server 1. Alternatively, a process of exchanging each foreign currency into a local currency may be performed in the casino management system 2 or the slot machine management server 1.
While in the present embodiment the slot machine management server 1 and the casino management system 2 play a role of the management server, one server may play a role of the management server.
In the present embodiment, $100 banknotes of USD are set as an unavailable money type of an unavailable currency in the areas E to H (selected area 2). The $100 banknotes of USD are discharged so as to limit (stop) usage of the $100 banknotes of USD even if the $100 banknotes of USD are inserted from the bill entry 22. Meanwhile, the limit of usage of a currency which is set as an unavailable currency may be achieved by stopping an exchange function in which the PTS terminal 700 exchanges (replaces) a foreign currency into a local currency (PHP, peso). The foreign currency is the type read in the currency reading device 201. In this case, the slot machine management server 1 sends, to the PTS terminal 700, a command which stops (limits) exchange of the currency used at the currency reading device 201.
Embodiments of the present invention thus described above solely serve as specific examples of the present invention, and are not to limit the scope of the present invention. The specific structures and the like are suitably modifiable. Further, the effects described in the embodiment of the present invention described in the above embodiment are no more than examples of preferable effects brought about by the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are not limited to those described hereinabove.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 018016 | Feb 2019 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2020/003393 | 1/30/2020 | WO |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2020/162312 | 8/13/2020 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8641513 | Brosnan | Feb 2014 | B2 |
| 9501897 | Hafezi | Nov 2016 | B2 |
| 9536387 | Doyle | Jan 2017 | B2 |
| 10885742 | Emori | Jan 2021 | B2 |
| 11227467 | Emori | Jan 2022 | B2 |
| 11328563 | Fraser | May 2022 | B1 |
| 20020138594 | Rowe | Sep 2002 | A1 |
| 20030081824 | Mennie | May 2003 | A1 |
| 20030216182 | Gauselmann | Nov 2003 | A1 |
| 20050037837 | Rowe | Feb 2005 | A1 |
| 20070032288 | Nelson | Feb 2007 | A1 |
| 20070155490 | Phillips | Jul 2007 | A1 |
| 20070173328 | Edgren | Jul 2007 | A1 |
| 20080120232 | Herrin | May 2008 | A1 |
| 20090012823 | Anderson | Jan 2009 | A1 |
| 20090063344 | Travis | Mar 2009 | A1 |
| 20090124370 | Walkwitz | May 2009 | A1 |
| 20090276715 | Arbogast | Nov 2009 | A1 |
| 20110195786 | Wells | Aug 2011 | A1 |
| 20110212762 | Ocko | Sep 2011 | A1 |
| 20110270425 | Kelly | Nov 2011 | A1 |
| 20120135799 | Okada | May 2012 | A1 |
| 20120252556 | Doyle | Oct 2012 | A1 |
| 20130344945 | Hafezi | Dec 2013 | A1 |
| 20150038217 | Okada | Feb 2015 | A1 |
| 20170287256 | Takeda | Oct 2017 | A1 |
| 20190156626 | Emori | May 2019 | A1 |
| 20200312074 | Jagielinski | Oct 2020 | A1 |
| 20220122063 | Haishima | Apr 2022 | A1 |
| 20220130209 | Haishima | Apr 2022 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2013-127805 | Jun 2013 | JP |
| 2010055726 | May 2010 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20220122403 A1 | Apr 2022 | US |
