Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – Data storage or retrieval
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-21
2003-09-09
Nguyen, Kim (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
Data storage or retrieval
C235S380000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06616535
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an integrated circuit (IC) card system for an electronic game machine, to a security system for an IC card and to a game system using an IC card.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Recently, a number of facilities and establishments have been created that are equipped with electronic game machines, for example, the so-called game centres. In these game centres, individuals can play the desired games as many times as they want by depositing money in the game machines. Consequently, players are required to bring money with them to the game centresin order play the games and as each game requires depositing money the players have to carry a lot of money with them, which can be very inconvenient. Furthermore, the shop or game centreis required to handle and count the various metal and paper currencies deposited in the game machines or in money exchange machines. This is troublesome and time consuming in order to determine the amount of income derived from operation of the game machines.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide an IC card system for a game machine, which allows the users to play games without carrying money.
Another object of the invention is to easily collect and sum up data such as an amount sold.
A further object is to provide a security system for the IC card system to enable high levels of security against unauthorised use.
A first aspect of the invention provides an IC card system for a game machine in which is used an IC card from or to which is read or written a game token for allowing a game device capable of executing games to execute games.
A preferred embodiment of the invention provides an IC card system for a game machine comprising: a game token input means for inputting into an IC card a game token based on an amount of money deposited and issuing the IC card; a game device which, upon insertion of the IC card, substantially decreases a value of game token in the IC card and allows an execution of a game based on the decreased game token; and a totalling means for a shop which is installed in each shop having a game device and collects and sums up, for each IC card, the values of game token input by the game token input means and the values of game token decreased by the game device respectively.
Such an IC card system can further comprise a game token increase means for substantially increasing a value of game token in the IC card based on an amount of money deposited, wherein, as a totalling means for a shop or game centre, an increased token totalling section for collecting and summing up values of game token increased by the game token increase means for each IC card is provided.
As the game token input means, a user information writing section for writing user information about an IC card user on thethe IC card can be provided, and, as the totalling means for a shop, a user information totalling section far collecting and summing up user information in the IC card for the IC card having game token decreased by the game device can be provided.
The IC card system for a game machine can further comprise an overall totalling means for collecting and summing up totalled results of all shops generated by respective totalling means for a shop.
A game result sending section for a shop can be used to send a game result to the totalling means for a shop in response to an input of a totalling command when the game is finished; and a game result totalling section which is installed in the totalling means for a shop collects and sums up game results sent from the game result sending section for a shop.
An IC card system for a game machine according to a further embodiment of the invention comprises: a game result storing means for storing the game result in the IC card in response to an input of a storing command when the game being finished; a non-profit game means which is disposed in a location other than the shop and which allows the game to be executed commencing with the previously finished status based on the game result in the IC card; a game result sending means for sending the game result of the non-profit game means in response to an input of a sending command when the game is finished; and a non-profit game result totalling means for collecting and summing up the game results sent from the game result sending means; wherein the overall totalling means collects and sums up all of the totalled results including those generated by respective nonprofit game result totalling means.
In one preferred embodiment, the game device is provided with a game succeeding section which allows the game to be executed commencing with the previously finished status based on the game result in the IC card, and the game result in the IC card is allowed to be used in both of the game vice belonging to the shop and the non-profit same means disposed in the other location.
Thus, the invention uses an IC card from or to which is read or written the game token for allowing the game device to execute the game, so that the game can be executed without the need for the user to carry or insert money.
The game token input means inputs into the IC card the game token based on an amount of money deposited and issues the IC card, and the game device, when the IC card is inserted, substantially decreases the value of game token in the IC card and allows a game to be executed based on the decreased game token. The game token increase means substantially increases the value of game token in the IC card based on an amount of money deposited, and the totalling means for a shop installed in each shop having a game device collects and sums up, for each IC card, the values of game token input by the game token input means, the values of game token decreased by the game device, and the values of game token increased by the game token increase means respectively, so that the game can be executed without the need to insert money and the amount sold by the shop can be easily determined.
The user information may be linked with the totalled results relating to game tokens corresponding, so that promotional activities can be created based on user information to encourage further use of the game system.
The overall totalling means collects and sums the totalled results of all shops generated by respective totalling means for a shop, so that, by making each shop, for example, publish overall shop ranking, together with other promotional activities can be used to promote use of the games.
The game result sending section for a shop sends the game result to the totalling means for a shop in response to the input of the totalling command when the game is finished, and the game result totalling section of the totalling means for a shop collects and sums the game results sent from the game result sending section for a shop, so that a user with an excellent score and the game result thereof may be found.
The game result storing means stores the game result in the IC card in response to the input of the storing command when the game is finished, the non-profit game means disposed in another location can then execute the game commencing at the previously finished status based on the game result in the IC card. The game result sending means sends the game result of the non-profit game means in response to the input of the sending command when the game is finished, the non-profit game result totalling means collects and sums up the game results sent from the game result sending means, and then the overall totalling means collects and sums up the totalled results including those generated by all non-profit game result totalling means, and the game results may be stored in the IC card and this enables the game to be executed on the non-profit game means such as those for home use following the game devices in the shop and vice versa. Thus use of a game machine requiring long time can be encouraged.
In addition, the overall totalling means is allowed to integrally manage a user who uses both of the game devices of each sh
Dote Shingo
Itoh Futoshi
Iwagami Shin
Nishizaki Tsutao
Nguyen Kim
Rosenthal & Osha L.L.P.
Schlumberger Systems
LandOfFree
IC card system for a game machine does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with IC card system for a game machine, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and IC card system for a game machine will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3026658