Check-actuated control mechanisms – Including value accumulator for plural checks – Having solid state circuitry
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-01
2001-10-02
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 3652)
Check-actuated control mechanisms
Including value accumulator for plural checks
Having solid state circuitry
C453S017000, C232S016000, C340S005400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296101
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a token/coin management system for amusement arcades having game machines played with tokens, for totally controlling tokens stocked at each amusement arcade and each game machine, the operating conditions of each game machine, tokens distributed through the amusement arcades, tokens temporarily kept for players, coins stocked at each token dispensing machine, etc.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Token/coin management systems for game machines are not so advanced yet. They generally collect tokens from each game machine and each token dispensing machine with collecting devices, count the number of tokens at each game machine, record the counted number on, for example, a memo pad, gather counted numbers from all game machines and token dispensing machines, and enter the gathered numbers into a computer.
The “tokens” used to play with game machines are coin-like metal objects developed for use with only game machines installed in amusement arcades. The amusement arcades must manage the tokens as well as coins inserted into token dispensing machines.
The conventional token management systems grasp the stock of tokens and coins only after the closure of a amusement arcade and are incapable of obtaining the situations of tokens distributed through game machines while the amusement arcade is open.
A player may ask the amusement arcade to keep his or her surplus tokens. It is difficult for the conventional systems to identify the player who asked for keeping surplus tokens. The conventional systems may let a player use tokens deposited by another player. Namely, the conventional systems are unable to check the illegal use of tokens deposited by players.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a token management system that solves the problems of the prior arts and is capable of grasping the situations of tokens in each game machine and each token dispensing machine installed in a amusement arcade even during the operation of the machines, detecting a loss of tokens collected by a collecting device, and temporarily keeping players' surplus tokens with players' identification data.
In order to accomplish the object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a token management system for a amusement arcade, having wireless account units and a collecting cart. The wireless account unit is provided for each of game machines and token dispensing machines installed in the amusement arcade, for detecting the number of tokens or coins inserted into a slot of the machine and the number of tokens or coins returned to players through a return mouth of the machine and transmitting the detected numbers to a wireless account unit attached to a management computer of the amusement arcade. Each of the wireless account units is provided with an identification number specific to the corresponding machine. The collecting cart collects tokens and coins from the game machines and token dispensing machines. The collecting cart has a counter for counting the number of tokens or coins at each of the game machines and token dispensing machines and a wireless account unit provided with a function for comparing the counted number with count data transmitted from the corresponding machine. With these components, the system determines whether or not tokens or coins are excessive or insufficient for each of the game machines and token dispensing machines according to data transmitted from the machines and whether or not there are losses of tokens or coins according to data transmitted from the collecting cart.
A second aspect of the present invention provides each of the game machines and token dispensing machines with a bar code representing an identification number specific to the machine, and the collecting cart with a bar-code reader. The bar-code reader reads the identification number of a given game machine or token dispensing machine, and according to the read identification number, the collecting cart automatically receives, through wireless communication, count data from the given machine.
A third aspect of the present invention provides a token management system for a amusement arcade having a token keep/return unit, game machines, token dispensing machines, and a management computer.
The token keep/return unit has a function for accepting tokens deposited by a player, a function for temporarily keeping the accepted tokens, and a function for returning the kept tokens to the player.
Each of the game machines and token dispensing machines has a wireless account unit for detecting the number of tokens or coins inserted into a slot of the machine and the number of tokens or coins returned to players through a return mouth of the machine and transmitting the detected numbers to a wireless account unit attached to a management computer of the amusement arcade. The wireless account unit is provided with an identification number specific to the corresponding machine.
The management computer is connected to the token keep/return unit through a communication link. The management computer transmits the identification number of any one of the game machines and token dispensing machines, receives the number of tokens or coins counted at the machine that has the transmitted identification number, checks the received number, issues an instruction to replenish the machine with tokens if the received number is below a predetermined level, and issues an instruction to extract tokens from the machine if the received number is above a predetermined level.
A fourth aspect of the present invention provides the token keep/return unit with an input unit for entering an identification number related to a player who deposits surplus tokens and a fingerprint recognition unit for scanning and reading a fingerprint of the player. The entered identification number and read fingerprint are transmitted to the management computer.
To return the deposited tokens to the player, the player enters the identification number through the input unit. The system retrieves the fingerprint from the management computer according to the entered identification number, and if the retrieved fingerprint agrees with a fingerprint of the player presently read by the fingerprint recognition unit, the system returns the deposited tokens to the player.
A fifth aspect of the present invention installs management computers in amusement arcades, respectively, and connects the management computers to one another through a communication network to centrally control tokens deposited by players to enable each player to deposit and receive tokens at any one of the amusement arcades through fingerprint identification.
According to the first aspect, the wireless account unit of each game machine or token dispensing machine transmits the number of tokens or coins deposited or dispensed at the machine to the management computer so that the management computer may acquire the availability of each machine as well as the number of tokens or coins held by each machine. The management computer may issue an instruction to supply tokens to any game machine or token dispensing machine that is short of tokens, or an instruction to extract tokens from any game machine or token dispensing machine that holds excessive tokens.
After the amusement arcade is closed, the collecting cart is used to collect tokens and coins from each of the game machines and token dispensing machines. The collecting cart has the counter. When collecting tokens from a game machine or token dispensing machine, the collecting cart enters an identification number specific to the machine and fetches count data from the machine. The collecting cart counts the number of tokens or coins of the machine with the use of the counter, compares the counted number with the fetched count data, and quickly finds out a difference between them, if any. Before the amusement arcade is opened, the management computer has latest data about tokens held by each game machine or token dispensi
Hasegawa Kazutoyo
Yamagishi Junichi
Chan Christopher J.
Frost Roger T.
Jaketic Bryan
Kilpatrick & Stockton
Olszewski Robert P.
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