US 5,845,902 A · Computer system in a gaming house

Abstract

A computer system in a gaming house has matrix controllers 100 of detection control sections, each being placed in each of a plurality of gaming machines, for controlling detection of game play media of the gaming machines and a hall management computer 200 of a gaming house control section communicating with the matrix controllers 100 for controlling the matrix controllers 100. Each of the matrix controllers 100 comprises a matrix sensor for sensing game play media of the gaming machines, storage means for storing detection positions to detect the game play media, determination means for determining that a game play medium is detected by the matrix sensor at one of the detection positions stored in the storage means, and outputting detection information, a transmission-reception circuit for transmitting the detection information output by the determination means to the hall management computer 200 and receiving detection position specification from the hall management computer 200, and setting means for setting the received detection position in the storage means.

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Drawings

Claims11

Dependent claims

A computer system in a gaming house having a plurality of gaming machines for players to play games with game play media, said computer system comprising:

detection control sections, each located in a respective one of said gaming machines, for controlling detection of the game play media of the gaming machines;
and
a gaming house control section in communication with each of the detection control sections and for controlling the detection control sections, wherein
each of said detection control sections comprises:
sensing means for sensing the game play media at a plurality of sensing positions of the gaming machine;
storage means for storing detection positions at which to detect the game play media, the detection positions corresponding to one or more of the sensing positions;
determination means for determining that one game play medium is sensed by said sensing means at one of the sensing positions that corresponds to one of the detection positions stored in said storage means, and for outputting detection information indicating that the game play medium is detected at the detection position;
first means for transmitting at least the detection information output by said determination means to said gaming house control section;
first means for receiving detection position information specifying the detection positions from said gaming house control section;
and
setting means for storing the detection positions specified by the detection position information received at the receiving means in said storage means, and wherein
said gaming house control section comprises:
means for inputting the detection position information;
second means for transmitting at least the detection position information input through said inputting means to each of said detection control sections;
second means for receiving at least the detection from said detection control sections;
and
means for processing the detection information received at said second receiving means.

14 more elements

A computer system in a gaming house having a plurality of gaming machines for players to play games with game play media, said computer system comprising:

detection control sections, each being placed in each of the gaming machines, for controlling detection of the game play media of the gaming machines;
and
a gaming house control section communicating with each of said detection control sections for controlling the detection control sections, wherein
each of said detection control sections comprises:
sensing means for sensing the game play media at a plurality of sensing positions of the gaming machine;
storage means for storing detection positions at which to detect the game play media, the detection positions corresponding to at least one of the sensing positions;
determination means for determining that one game play medium is sensed by said sensing means at one of the sensing positions corresponding to one of the detection positions stored in said storage means, and for outputting detection information indicating that the game play medium is detected at the detection position;
means for storing predetermined processing procedures;
detection information processing means for processing said detection information output by said determination means according to one of the processing procedures stored in the processing procedure storage means, and for generating and outputting a processing result;
first means for transmitting at least the processing result output by the detection information processing means to the gaming house control section;
first means for receiving a processing procedure transmitted from said gaming house control section;
and
setting means for storing the processing procedure received at the receiving means in said processing procedure storage means, and wherein
said gaming house control section comprises:
means for inputting the processing procedure for said detection information processing means;
second means for transmitting at least the processing procedure input through the inputting means to each of the detection control sections;
second means for receiving at least said processing results from each of said detection control sections;
and
means for processing the processing result received at the second receiving means.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description6,964 words

Summary1,967 words

#1. Technical Field

#This invention relates to a computer system for managing gaming machines in a gaming house having gaming machines such as pachinko ball machines (Japanese pinball machines), arrange balls, and mah-jongg pinball machines using game play media.

#2. Technical Background

Brief description of the drawings7 figures

#In the accompanying drawings:

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer system in a gaming house;

#FIG. 2 is an overall block diagram of the computer system;

Detailed description4,902 words

#Referring now to the accompanying drawings, there is shown the best mode for carrying out the invention as an embodiment of the invention.

#In the embodiment, a metal sensor like a matrix is used as detection means for detecting game play media, and is installed in a gaming machine. FIG. 3 is an external view of a gaming machine in which the detection means is installed. FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the matrix structure when the matrix sensor is used as the detection means. In FIG. 3, a pinball machine is used as a gaming machine 10.

#The gaming machine 10 has a base board for providing a space required to move metallic bodies of game play media, a glass lid spaced from the base board at a given interval to cover the base board, and a propelling mechanism for propelling metallic bodies B into the top portion of the base board. The gaming machine 10 is set up so that the base board becomes substantially parallel to the vertical direction. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the matrix sensor making up the metal sensor is placed along the base board of the gaming machine 10. It is disposed on an inner glass substance when viewed from the gaming machine 10, which is on the side of the base board, of surface and inner glass substances making up the front glass lid covering the base board.

Facts

Application

08/947,724Filed 23 Oct 1997 · continuation

Priority

JP 5-11617418 May 1993

Granted

8 Dec 1998

Term ended

20 Nov 2015

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination. Patent term adjustment is unavailable; no adjustment was added.

Classification3 codes

G07F 17/3297
Type of games: fairground games, e.g. Tivoli, coin pusher machines, cranes
G07F 17/32
Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services: for games, toys, sports, or amusements
G07F
Coin-freed or like apparatus

Computer system in a gaming house

Life of this patent

Computer system in a gaming house

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims11

Description6,964 words

Drawings

Classification3 codes

Life of this patent

Description6,964 words