U.S. patent application number 11/721805 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-03 for game machine management device having penalty function, game device, operation program thereof and penalty setting server.
This patent application is currently assigned to SEGA CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Shinichi Furuhashi, Yutaka Okunoki, Jiro Yoshida.
Application Number | 20090298581 11/721805 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36587820 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090298581 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Furuhashi; Shinichi ; et
al. |
December 3, 2009 |
GAME MACHINE MANAGEMENT DEVICE HAVING PENALTY FUNCTION, GAME
DEVICE, OPERATION PROGRAM THEREOF AND PENALTY SETTING SERVER
Abstract
The present invention provides a game machine authentication
management device and a game device for transmitting an
authentication request and ID data to an authentication server
through first communication means, waiting for a response including
the authentication result data in a reception-enabled state,
acquiring authentication level data capable of indicating any one
of the events of authentication OK, authentication NG and timeout,
transmitting electronic money terminal setting data and an
electronic money operation instruction according to the
authentication level data to an electronic money terminal through
second communication means or third communication means, and
suspending the electronic money terminal setting data and the
electronic money operation instruction in at least one of the
cases. The electronic money terminal setting data may be stored in
a penalty setting server or the like.
Inventors: |
Furuhashi; Shinichi; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Yoshida; Jiro; (Tokyo, JP) ; Okunoki;
Yutaka; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SEED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW GROUP PLLC
701 FIFTH AVE, SUITE 5400
SEATTLE
WA
98104
US
|
Assignee: |
SEGA CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
36587820 |
Appl. No.: |
11/721805 |
Filed: |
December 12, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
December 12, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2005/022777 |
371 Date: |
August 10, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/29 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3232
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/29 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 16, 2004 |
JP |
2004-364123 |
Dec 16, 2004 |
JP |
2004-364124 |
Claims
1. A remote authentication management system, comprising: an
authentication server provided with a function of authenticating an
apparatus to be authenticated; a penalty setting server which
stores integrated penalty setting data, the integrated penalty
setting data storing at least any one of a first setting table and
a second setting table including set values which define an
authentication level of the apparatus, the payment function for at
least any one of the payment apparatuses being changed in
accordance with the authentication level, the first setting table
being different from the second table in at least any one of the
set values that define the authentication level; an authentication
management device which stores unit penalty setting data including
a set value which is different from the integrated penalty setting
data; a first network which connects the penalty setting server and
the apparatus; and a second network which connects the first
network and the authentication server, wherein the authentication
server permits operation of the apparatus when the apparatus can
invoke the authentication server at predetermined timing, the
apparatus accesses the penalty setting server when the apparatus
cannot invoke the authentication server at predetermined timing or
cannot invoke within a predetermined time, the apparatus refers to
the first setting table or the second setting table of the
integrated penalty setting table when the access succeeds, and the
apparatus refers to the unit penalty setting table when the access
fails.
2. The authentication management system according to claim 1,
wherein the integrated penalty setting table or the unit penalty
setting table can be set or referred to by a maintenance computer
connected through the network or a different communication
path.
3-4. (canceled)
5. The authentication management system according to claim 1,
wherein an authentication scheduling server which stores
authentication schedule data which determines the predetermined
timing is further connected to the network.
6. (canceled)
7. The authentication management system according to claim 1,
wherein an authentication pause scheduling server which stores
authentication pause schedule data is further connected to the
network.
8. (canceled)
9. An apparatus to be authenticated, comprising: first
communication means configured to be connectable to a computer
network and communicable with an authentication server; first
storage means for storing ID data for authentication; second
storage means for storing authentication schedule data or a program
to determine a schedule according to which authentication should be
requested from the authentication server; payment means configured
to be communicable with at least one of payment apparatuses through
the third communication means; and function setting means
configured to be able to generate an authentication request to the
authentication server, transmit the authentication request and the
ID data stored in the first storage means to the authentication
server through the first communication means, receive
authentication result data indicating a success or failure of
authentication from the authentication server through the first
communication means and change a payment function for at least one
of the payment apparatuses based on payment setting data which
defines a payment setting, wherein the function setting means
transmits the authentication request and the ID data to the
authentication server through the first communication means
according to a schedule based on at least one of the authentication
schedule data and the program of the second storage means; waits
for a response including the authentication result data from the
authentication server in a reception-enabled state within a
predetermined standby time; acquires authentication level data
which can indicate any one of the events that the authentication
result data indicating that authentication succeeded has been
received from the authentication server during the predetermined
standby time, that the authentication result data indicating that
authentication failed has been received from the server during the
predetermined standby time and that the authentication result data
has not been received during the predetermined standby time; and
changes the payment function for at least one of the payment
apparatuses based on payment setting data according to the
authentication level data with any one of the events.
10. An authentication management device, comprising first
communication means configured to be connectable to a computer
network and communicable with an authentication server; second
communication means configured to be communicable with the
apparatus to be authenticated; first storage means for storing ID
data for authentication; second storage means for storing
authentication schedule data or a program to determine a schedule
according to which authentication should be requested from the
authentication server; payment means configured to be communicable
with at least one of payment apparatuses through the second
communication means or third communication means; and function
setting means configured to be able to generate an authentication
request to the authentication server, transmit the authentication
request and the ID data stored in the first storage means to the
authentication server through the first communication means,
receive the authentication result data indicating a success or
failure of authentication from the authentication server through
the first communication means and transmit payment means setting
data which defines operable functions of the payment means or a
payment means operation instruction according to the payment means
setting data to the payment means through the second communication
means or the third communication means, wherein the function
setting means transmits the authentication request and the ID data
to the authentication server through the first communication means
according to a schedule based on at least one of the authentication
schedule data and the program of the second storage means; waits
for a response including the authentication result data from the
authentication server in a reception-enabled state within a
predetermined standby time, acquires authentication level data
which can indicate any one of the events that the authentication
result data indicating that authentication succeeded has been
received from the authentication server during the predetermined
standby time, that the authentication result data indicating that
authentication failed has been received from the server during the
predetermined standby time and that the authentication result data
has not been received during the predetermined standby time and
transmits the payment means setting data according to the
authentication level data or the payment means operation
instruction to the payment means through the second communication
means or the third communication means at any one of the cases or
suspends the transmission of the payment means setting data or the
payment means operation instruction through the second
communication means or the third communication means according to
the authentication level data with any one of the events.
11. A penalty setting server to be used for an authentication
management device or an apparatus to be authenticated, configured
to be communicable with the function setting means through the
first communication means of the apparatus to be authenticated
according to claim 9 through the computer network, comprising:
storage means for storing the integrated penalty setting table; and
outside communication means communicable with an outside network
connected to any one of the computer network and another computer
network logically separated from the computer network, wherein the
integrated penalty setting table is configured to be rewritable
from a maintenance computer in the outside network through the
outside communication means.
12. A method of operating a remote authentication management
system, comprising an authentication server provided with a
function of authenticating an apparatus to be authenticated, a
penalty setting server which stores integrated penalty setting
data, the integrated penalty setting data storing at least one of a
first setting table and a second setting table including set values
which define authentication levels of the apparatus and the first
setting table being different from the second table in at least one
of the set values which define the authentication levels, an
authentication management device which stores unit penalty setting
data including a set value which is different from the integrated
penalty setting data, a first network which connects the penalty
setting server and the apparatus and a second network which
connects the first network and the authentication server, the
method comprising the steps of: permitting the operation of the
apparatus by the authentication server when the device can invoke
the authentication server at predetermined timing; at the device,
accessing the penalty setting server when the apparatus cannot
invoke the authentication server at predetermined timing or cannot
invoke the authentication server within a predetermined time; at
the device, referring to the first setting table or the second
setting table of the integrated penalty setting table when the
access succeeds; and at the device, referring to the unit penalty
setting table when the access fails.
13. A method of operating an authentication management device,
comprising first communication means configured to be connectable
to a computer network and communicable with an authentication
server, second communication means configured to be communicable
with an apparatus to be authenticated, first storage means for
storing ID data for authentication, second storage means for
storing authentication schedule data or a program to determine a
schedule according to which authentication should be requested from
the authentication server, payment means configured to be
communicable with at least one of payment apparatuses through the
second communication means or third communication means and
function setting means configured to be able to generate an
authentication request to the authentication server, transmit the
authentication request and the ID data stored in the first storage
means to the authentication server through the first communication
means, receive the authentication result data indicating a success
or failure of authentication from the authentication server through
the first communication means and transmit payment means setting
data which defines operable functions of the payment means or a
payment means operation instruction according to the payment means
setting data to the payment means through the second communication
means or the third communication means, the method comprising the
steps of: with the function setting means, transmitting the
authentication request and the ID data to the authentication server
through the first communication means according to a schedule based
on at least one of the authentication schedule data and the program
of the second storage means; at the function setting means, waiting
for a response including the authentication result data from the
authentication server in a reception-enabled state within a
predetermined standby time; at the function setting means,
acquiring authentication level data which can indicate any one of
the events that the authentication result data indicating that
authentication succeeded has been received from the authentication
server during the predetermined standby time, that the
authentication result data indicating that authentication failed
has been received from the server during the predetermined standby
time and that the authentication result data has not been received
during the predetermined standby time; and with the function
setting means, transmitting the payment means setting data
according to the authentication level data or the payment means
operation instruction to the payment means through the second
communication means or the third communication means at any one of
the cases or suspending the transmission of the payment means
setting data or the payment means operation instruction through the
second communication means or the third communication means
according to the authentication level data at any one of the
cases.
14. A method of operating a penalty setting server configured to be
communicable with the function setting means through the first
communication means of the apparatus to be authenticated according
to claim 9 through the computer network, comprising the steps of:
storing the integrated penalty setting table in the storage means
the penalty setting server; with outside communication means of the
penalty setting server making communicable with an outside network
connected to any one of the computer network and another computer
network logically separated from the computer network; and
configuring the integrated penalty setting table to be rewritable
from a maintenance computer which is in the outside network through
the outside communication means.
15. A computer-readable recording medium for causing a computer to
operate as an authentication management apparatus, the computer
comprising first communication means configured to be connectable
to a computer network and communicable with an authentication
server, second communication means configured to be communicable
with an apparatus to be authenticated, first storage means for
storing ID data for authentication, second storage means for
storing authentication schedule data or a program to determine a
schedule according to which authentication should be requested from
the authentication server, payment means configured to be
communicable with at least one of payment apparatuses through the
second communication means or third communication means and
calculation means for operating as function setting means
configured to be able to generate an authentication request to the
authentication server, transmit the authentication request and the
ID data stored in the first storage means to the authentication
server through the first communication means, receive the
authentication result data indicating a success or failure of
authentication from the authentication server through the first
communication means and configured to be able to transmit payment
means setting data which defines operable functions of the payment
means or a payment means operation instruction according to the
payment means setting data to the payment means through the second
communication means or third communication means, causing the
computer to execute: a step by the calculation means of
transmitting the authentication request and the ID data to the
authentication server through the first communication means
according to a schedule based on at least one of the authentication
schedule data and the program of the second storage means; a step
by the calculation means of waiting for a response including the
authentication result data from the authentication server in a
reception-enabled state within a predetermined standby time; a step
by the calculation means of acquiring authentication level data
which can indicate any one of the events that the authentication
result data indicating that authentication succeeded has been
received from the authentication server during the predetermined
standby time, that the authentication result data indicating that
authentication failed has been received from the server during the
predetermined standby time and that the authentication result data
has not been received during the predetermined standby time; and a
step by the calculation means of transmitting the payment means
setting data according to the authentication level data or the
payment means operation instruction to the payment means through
the second communication means or the third communication means at
any one of the cases or suspending the transmission of the payment
means setting data or the payment means operation instruction
through the second communication means or the third communication
means according to the authentication level data at any one of the
cases.
16. A computer computer-readable recording medium which causes
calculation means of a penalty setting server configured to be
communicable with the function setting means through the first
communication means of the apparatus to be authenticated according
to claim 9 through the computer network to execute: a step of
storing the integrated penalty setting table in the storage means
of the penalty setting server; a step of making the outside
communication means of the penalty setting server communicable with
any one of the computer network and an outside network connected to
another computer network logically separated from the computer
network; and a step of configuring the integrated penalty setting
table to be rewritable from a maintenance computer which is in the
outside network through the outside communication means.
17-43. (canceled)
44. The authentication management system according to claim 1,
wherein the apparatus to be authenticated is a game machine, and
the integrated penalty setting table stores set values of the game
machine setting data.
45. The authentication management system according to claim 1
which, when the authentication result data indicating that
authentication succeeded is not received from a authentication
server during a predetermined standby time, causes a manual clock
setting means to stop the reception of the manual time setting.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to a game machine management
device, game device, operation program thereof and server to set
the game machine management device. The present invention relates,
more particularly, to a device for managing with authentication a
game machine used for commercial purposes in running a game and
billing and settlement, a game device which carries out such
authentication, operation program thereof and a server to control
the settings of such a device.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Conventionally, a game system such as an electronic game or
video game which allows many remotely located game participants to
participate in a game using a communication network is known (e.g.,
see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-000829 (hereinafter, referred
to as "Patent Document 1")). This game system allows a player to
enjoy a game, for example, at an amusement facility after
conducting appropriate logging in. Such a game machine (game
device) is sometimes connected to an in-store network at the
amusement facility such as a so-called game center. This network is
also connected to, for example, an appropriate outside server. In
order to prevent unauthorized alteration of an electronic circuit
board of a game machine, unauthorized transfer from its original
setting location or unauthorized tampering of communication data
(hereinafter, generically referred to as "unauthorized use or the
like"), authentication is carried out by a server thereof at the
start of the game machine or the game machine is periodically
authenticated.
[0005] Such an amusement facility uses game machines which allow
players to play games. Examples of such a game machine include a
video game machine whereby a player plays a video game and a prize
game machine aimed at prize winning or the like. Furthermore, at
the amusement facility, game machines such as a medal dispensing
machine to provide players medals which can be used for the game
machines and which are obtained by paying some money are used. The
entity who manages the amusement facility is generally called an
"operator."
[0006] Furthermore, media such as an IC card and an electronic
money function incorporated in a cellular phone are recently known
as a means for carrying out billing and settlement processing of
various charges. Electronic money (Bitwallet, Inc., Edy (registered
trademark), etc.) using a non-contact electromagnetic communication
is known as a typical example. This technique is disclosed, for
example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-251005 (hereinafter,
referred to as "Patent Document 2").
[0007] When the function of electronic money is added to each of
the above described game machines, authentication can be carried
out using a dedicated additional unit. Here, electronic money is
related to sales and payment of a game machine. For the operator,
it is desirable that electronic money always operates normally
unless unauthorized use is attempted. On the other hand, when an
investigation is made into causes why authentication of an actual
game machine is not concluded successfully, most of the causes are
not related to unauthorized use, but they can simply be the poor
condition of the network in the store or the poor condition of the
network connecting the store and the authentication server due to
lack of maintenance work or the like. That is, when authentication
fails or a timeout occurs (a response as to whether or not
authentication fails is not obtained within a predetermined time),
stopping the use of the game machine or prohibiting the game using
electronic money across the board will cause the game using the
game machine or the game using electronic money to be prohibited,
placing an excessive burden on the business even if the user does
not attempt unauthorized use. A similar situation may also occur if
no maintenance staff is available due to holidays, etc. when
authentication fails, and when authentication fails or a timeout
occurs, stopping the use of the game machine or prohibiting the
game using electronic money immediately thereafter should also be
avoided.
[0008] Furthermore, when authentication fails, since there is a
possibility that the operator's business may be affected, taking
measures such as stopping the use of the actual game machine or
prohibiting the game using electronic money (these are generically
called "penalties") should be performed based on a precise time.
Moreover, though authentication should be repeatedly performed with
appropriate frequency, it is desirable to operate a clock to
determine authentication timing or the like so as to appropriately
prevent behaviors like avoidance of authentication or reducing the
frequency with which authentication is performed.
[0009] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-829
[0010] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
2000-251005
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide a game
machine authentication management device, a game device, operation
program thereof and penalty setting server capable of appropriately
managing a game machine such as a conventional video game machine,
prize game machine or medal dispensing machine used in a game
center and appropriately using the game machine except in cases
with actual unauthorized use or the like.
[0012] Here, the present invention provides a remote authentication
management system capable of limiting functions of a device located
in a remote place through a network without being limited to the
above described game machine.
[0013] More specifically, the present invention provides a remote
authentication management system, including an authentication
server (24) provided with a function of authenticating an apparatus
(180) to be authenticated, a penalty setting server (140) which
stores integrated penalty setting data, the integrated penalty
setting data storing at least one of a first setting table and a
second setting table including set values which define an
authentication level of the apparatus (180), the first setting
table being different from the second table in at least one of the
set values that define the authentication level, an authentication
management device (10) which stores unit penalty setting data
including a set value which is different from the integrated
penalty setting data, a first network (LAN) which connects the
penalty setting server (140) and the apparatus (10) and a second
network (WAN) which connects the first network (LAN) and the
authentication server (24), wherein the authentication server (24)
permits operation of the apparatus (180) when the apparatus (10)
can invoke the authentication server (24) at predetermined timing,
the apparatus (10) accesses the penalty setting server (140) when
the apparatus (10) cannot invoke the authentication server (24) at
predetermined timing or cannot invoke within a predetermined time,
the apparatus (10) refers to the first setting table or the second
setting table of the integrated penalty setting table when the
access succeeds, and the apparatus (10) refers to the unit penalty
setting table when the access fails.
[0014] Here, the remote authentication management system of the
present invention preferably includes a mode in which the
integrated penalty setting table can be set or referred to by a
maintenance computer (28) connected through the network or a
different communication path, a mode in which the unit penalty
setting table can be set or referred to from the maintenance
computer (28) connected through the network or a different
communication path. Furthermore, a mode in which the maintenance
computer (28) is the authentication server (24) is more preferable.
Furthermore, a mode in which an authentication scheduling server
which stores authentication schedule data which determines the
predetermined timing is further connected to the network or a mode
in which the authentication scheduling server is the penalty
setting server (140) is preferable. A mode in which an
authentication pause scheduling server which stores authentication
pause schedule data is further connected to the network is more
preferable. Here, the authentication pause scheduling server may
also be the penalty setting server or the authentication scheduling
server.
[0015] Furthermore, the present invention provides an apparatus to
be authenticated, provided with authentication management means.
More specifically, the present invention provides an apparatus to
be authenticated, including first communication means configured to
be connectable to a computer network and communicable with an
authentication server, first storage means for storing ID data for
authentication, second storage means for storing authentication
schedule data or a program to determine a schedule according to
which authentication should be requested from the authentication
server, payment means configured to be communicable with at least
one of payment apparatuses and function setting means configured to
be able to generate an authentication request to the authentication
server, transmit the authentication request and the ID data stored
in the first storage means to the authentication server through the
first communication means, receive authentication result data
indicating a success or failure of authentication from the
authentication server through the first communication means and
change a payment function for at least one of the payment
apparatuses based on payment setting data which defines a payment
setting, wherein the function setting means transmits the
authentication request and the ID data to the authentication server
through the first communication means according to a schedule based
on at least one of the authentication schedule data and the program
of the second storage means, waits for a response including the
authentication result data from the authentication server in a
reception-enabled state within a predetermined standby time,
acquires authentication level data which can indicate any one of
the events that the authentication result data indicating that
authentication succeeded has been received from the authentication
server during the predetermined standby time, that the
authentication result data indicating that authentication failed
has been received from the server during the predetermined standby
time and that the authentication result data has not been received
during the predetermined standby time and changes the payment
function for at least one of the payment apparatuses based on
payment setting data according to the authentication level data at
any of the cases.
[0016] Furthermore, the present invention provides an
authentication management device which is different from the
apparatus to be authenticated. More specifically, the present
invention provides an authentication management device, including
first communication means configured to be connectable to a
computer network and communicable with an authentication server,
second communication means configured to be communicable with the
apparatus to be authenticated, first storage means for storing ID
data for authentication, second storage means for storing
authentication schedule data or a program to determine a schedule
according to which authentication should be requested from the
authentication server, payment means configured to be communicable
with at least one of payment apparatuses through the second
communication means or third communication means and function
setting means configured to be able to generate an authentication
request to the authentication server, transmit the authentication
request and the ID data stored in the first storage means to the
authentication server through the first communication means,
receive the authentication result data indicating a success or
failure of authentication from the authentication server through
the first communication means and transmit payment means setting
data which defines operable functions of the payment means or a
payment means operation instruction according to the payment means
setting data to the payment means through the second communication
means or the third communication means, wherein the function
setting means transmits the authentication request and the ID data
to the authentication server through the first communication means
according to a schedule based on at least one of the authentication
schedule data and the program of the second storage means, waits
for a response including the authentication result data from the
authentication server in a reception-enabled state within a
predetermined standby time, acquires authentication level data
which can indicate any one of the events that the authentication
result data indicating that authentication succeeded has been
received from the authentication server during the predetermined
standby time, that the authentication result data indicating that
authentication failed has been received from the server during the
predetermined standby time and that the authentication result data
has not been received during the predetermined standby time and
transmits the payment means setting data according to the
authentication level data or the payment means operation
instruction to the payment means through the second communication
means or the third communication means at any one of the cases or
suspends the transmission of the payment means setting data or the
payment means operation instruction through the second
communication means or the third communication means according to
the authentication level data at any one of the cases.
[0017] Furthermore, when authentication fails, the present
invention provides a penalty setting server to be used for an
apparatus which stops or prohibits the use of an apparatus to be
authenticated. More specifically, the present invention provides a
penalty setting server to be used for an authentication management
device or an apparatus to be authenticated, configured to be
communicable with the function setting means through the first
communication means of the apparatus to be authenticated or the
authentication management device through the computer network,
including storage means for storing the integrated penalty setting
table and outside communication means communicable with an outside
network connected to any one of the computer network and another
computer network logically separated from the computer network,
wherein the integrated penalty setting table is configured to be
rewritable from a maintenance computer in the outside network
through the outside communication means.
[0018] Furthermore, the present invention provides a method of
operating a remote authentication management system. More
specifically, the present invention provides a method of operating
a remote authentication management system, including an
authentication server provided with a function of authenticating an
apparatus to be authenticated, a penalty setting server which
stores integrated penalty setting data, the integrated penalty
setting data storing at least one of a first setting table and a
second setting table including set values which define
authentication levels of the apparatus and the first setting table
being different from the second table in at least one of the set
values which define the authentication levels, an authentication
management device which stores unit penalty setting data including
a set value which is different from the integrated penalty setting
data, a first network (LAN) which connects the penalty setting
server and the apparatus and a second network (WAN) which connects
the first network (LAN) and the authentication server, the method
including a step of permitting the operation of the apparatus by
the authentication server when the device can invoke the
authentication server at predetermined timing, a step by the device
of accessing the penalty setting server when the apparatus cannot
invoke the authentication server at predetermined timing or cannot
invoke the authentication server within a predetermined time, a
step by the device of referring to the first setting table or the
second setting table of the integrated penalty setting table when
the access succeeds and a step by the device of referring to the
unit penalty setting table when the access fails.
[0019] Furthermore, the present invention provides a method of
managing authentication of an apparatus to be authenticated. More
specifically, the present invention provides a method of operating
an authentication management device, including first communication
means configured to be connectable to a computer network and
communicable with an authentication server, second communication
means configured to be communicable with an apparatus to be
authenticated, first storage means for storing ID data for
authentication, second storage means for storing authentication
schedule data or a program to determine a schedule according to
which authentication should be requested from the authentication
server, payment means configured to be communicable with at least
one of payment apparatuses through the second communication means
or third communication means and function setting means configured
to be able to generate an authentication request to the
authentication server, transmit the authentication request and the
ID data stored in the first storage means to the authentication
server through the first communication means, receive the
authentication result data indicating a success or failure of
authentication from the authentication server through the first
communication means and transmit payment means setting data which
defines operable functions of the payment means or a payment means
operation instruction according to the payment means setting data
to the payment means through the second communication means or the
third communication means, the method including a step by the
function setting means of transmitting the authentication request
and the ID data to the authentication server through the first
communication means according to a schedule based on at least one
of the authentication schedule data and the program of the second
storage means, a step by the function setting means of waiting for
a response including the authentication result data from the
authentication server in a reception-enabled state within a
predetermined standby time, a step by the function setting means of
acquiring authentication level data which can indicate any one of
the events that the authentication result data indicating that
authentication succeeded has been received from the authentication
server during the predetermined standby time, that the
authentication result data indicating that authentication failed
has been received from the server during the predetermined standby
time and that the authentication result data has not been received
during the predetermined standby time and a step by the function
setting means of transmitting the payment means setting data
according to the authentication level data or the payment means
operation instruction to the payment means through the second
communication means or the third communication means at any one of
the cases or suspending the transmission of the payment means
setting data or the payment means operation instruction through the
second communication means or the third communication means
according to the authentication level data at any one of the
cases.
[0020] Furthermore, the present invention provides a method of
operating a penalty setting server. More specifically, the present
invention provides a method of operating a penalty setting server
configured to be communicable with the function setting means
through the first communication means of the apparatus to be
authenticated or the authentication management device through the
computer network, including a step of storing the integrated
penalty setting table in the storage means of the penalty setting
server, a step by outside communication means of the penalty
setting server of making communicable with an outside network
connected to any one of the computer network and another computer
network logically separated from the computer network and a step of
configuring the integrated penalty setting table to be rewritable
from a maintenance computer which is in the outside network through
the outside communication means.
[0021] Furthermore, the present invention provides a program to
manage authentication of an apparatus to be authenticated. More
specifically, the present invention provides a computer program for
causing a computer to operate as an authentication management
apparatus, the computer including first communication means
configured to be connectable to a computer network and communicable
with an authentication server, second communication means
configured to be communicable with an apparatus to be
authenticated, first storage means for storing ID data for
authentication, second storage means for storing authentication
schedule data or a program to determine a schedule according to
which authentication should be requested from the authentication
server, payment means configured to be communicable with at least
one of payment apparatuses through the second communication means
or third communication means and calculation means for operating as
function setting means configured to be able to generate an
authentication request to the authentication server, transmit the
authentication request and the ID data stored in the first storage
means to the authentication server through the first communication
means, receive the authentication result data indicating a success
or failure of authentication from the authentication server through
the first communication means and configured to be able to transmit
payment means setting data which defines operable functions of the
payment means or a payment means operation instruction according to
the payment means setting data to the payment means through the
second communication means or third communication means, the
computer program causing the computer to execute a step by the
calculation means of transmitting the authentication request and
the ID data to the authentication server through the first
communication means according to a schedule based on at least one
of the authentication schedule data and the program of the second
storage means, a step by the calculation means of waiting for a
response including the authentication result data from the
authentication server in a reception-enabled state within a
predetermined standby time, a step by the calculation means of
acquiring authentication level data which can indicate any one of
the events that the authentication result data indicating that
authentication succeeded has been received from the authentication
server during the predetermined standby time, that the
authentication result data indicating that authentication failed
has been received from the server during the predetermined standby
time and that the authentication result data has not been received
during the predetermined standby time, and a step by the
calculation means of transmitting the payment means setting data
according to the authentication level data or the payment means
operation instruction to the payment means through the second
communication means or the third communication means at any one of
the cases or suspending the transmission of the payment means
setting data or the payment means operation instruction through the
second communication means or the third communication means
according to the authentication level data at any one of the
cases.
[0022] Furthermore, the present invention provides a computer
program which causes calculation means of a penalty setting server
configured to be communicable with the function setting means
through the first communication means of the apparatus to be
authenticated or the authentication management device through the
computer network to execute a step of storing the integrated
penalty setting table in the storage means of the penalty setting
server, a step of making the outside communication means of the
penalty setting server communicable with any one of the computer
network and an outside network connected to another computer
network logically separated from the computer network and a step of
configuring the integrated penalty setting table to be rewritable
from a maintenance computer which is in the outside network through
the outside communication means.
[0023] Furthermore, the present invention also provides a recording
medium which stores any one of the above described programs.
Examples of such a recording medium may include a rewritable
nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory, EEPROM (Electrically
Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and hard disk drive,
read-only nonvolatile memory such as a mask ROM or rewritable or
read-only optical disk such as CD and DVD.
[0024] Here, the above described "payment apparatus" or "payment
means" may include an apparatus for carrying out payment through
cash, a prepaid card, electronic money or the like. Examples
thereof may include an electronic money reader/writer apparatus.
Furthermore, the above described "apparatus to be authenticated"
may include an apparatus which has the function of providing a
service and selling articles such as a game machine, karaoke
apparatus, jukebox and vending machine. Moreover, the above
described "authentication management device" is not limited to a
"game machine authentication management device" and may include an
apparatus for appropriately managing the above described "apparatus
to be authenticated" and "payment apparatus" or the like.
[0025] Moreover, the present invention provides a game machine
authentication management device, including first communication
means configured to be connectable to a computer network and
communicable with an authentication server, second communication
means configured to be communicable with a game machine, first
storage means for storing ID data for authentication, second
storage means for storing authentication schedule data or a program
to determine a schedule according to which authentication should be
requested from the authentication server, an electronic money
terminal provided with a reader/writer section configured to be
communicable with at least one of an electronic money medium and an
apparatus with a built-in electronic money function and configured
to be made communicable through the second communication means or
third communication means, and function setting means configured to
be able to generate an authentication request to an authentication
server, transmit the authentication request and the ID data stored
in the first storage means to the authentication server through the
first communication means, receive the authentication result data
indicating a success or failure of authentication from the
authentication server through the first communication means and
transmit electronic money terminal setting data which defines
operable functions of the electronic money terminal or an
electronic money terminal operation instruction according to the
electronic money terminal setting data to the electronic money
terminal through the second communication means or the third
communication means, wherein the function setting means transmits
the authentication request and the ID data to the authentication
server through the first communication means according to a
schedule based on at least one of the authentication schedule data
and the program of the second storage means, waits for a response
including the authentication result data from the authentication
server in a reception-enabled state within a predetermined standby
time, acquires authentication level data which can indicate any one
of the events that the authentication result data indicating that
authentication succeeded has been received from the authentication
server during the predetermined standby time, that the
authentication result data indicating that authentication failed
has been received from the server during the predetermined standby
time and that the authentication result data has not been received
during the predetermined standby time, transmits the electronic
money terminal setting data or electronic money terminal operation
instruction according to the authentication level data to the
electronic money terminal through the second communication means or
the third communication means at any one of the cases or suspends
the transmission of the electronic money terminal setting data or
the electronic money terminal operation instruction through the
second communication means or the third communication means
according to the authentication level data at any one of the
cases.
[0026] Here, in the present invention, the electronic money
terminal setting data in general is data to determine operation of
an electronic money terminal and the electronic money terminal
operation instruction is a command to cause the electronic money
terminal to perform a specific operation (e.g., billing of a
predetermined amount of money on electronic money or the like).
When the electronic money terminal setting data is stored in the
apparatus authentication management device, the apparatus
authentication management device transmits an electronic money
terminal operation instruction according to the electronic money
terminal setting data and the electronic money terminal operates
accordingly. Furthermore, when the electronic money terminal is
provided with some storage means, the apparatus authentication
management device transmits the electronic money terminal setting
data itself and the electronic money terminal performs an operation
according to the electronic money terminal setting data.
Furthermore, in the present invention, timing for transmitting
electronic money terminal setting data and an electronic money
terminal operation instruction in general is not particularly
limited. For example, the game machine authentication management
device of the present invention may store the authentication level
data in either the storage means or the electronic money terminal
setting data and an electronic money terminal operation instruction
according to the authentication level data may be transmitted only
after a signal reporting that an attempt to perform payment using
electronic money is being made has been received from the
electronic money terminal through the second communication means or
third communication means. Furthermore, the game machine
authentication management device of the present invention may
acquire the authentication level data, immediately transmit the
electronic money terminal setting data and the electronic money
terminal may store the data and change its operation.
[0027] Furthermore, according to the present invention, electronic
money terminal setting data or an electronic money terminal
operation instruction according to the authentication level data in
general is transmitted to the electronic money terminal through the
second communication means or third communication means or the
transmission of the electronic money terminal setting data or the
electronic money terminal operation instruction through the second
communication means or the third communication means is suspended
according to the authentication level data in at least one of the
cases. The specific configuration of data or an instruction in the
electronic money terminal setting data or an electronic money
terminal operation instruction is determined by the mounting
specification of the electronic money terminal. Therefore, when,
for example, the electronic money terminal has a plurality of
operating modes and when the operating mode of the electronic money
terminal is switched according to the authentication level data or
the like, the electronic money terminal setting data or an
electronic money terminal operation instruction is transmitted to
the electronic money terminal through the second communication
means or the third communication means. Furthermore, when the
electronic money terminal requires an explicit operation
instruction for the operation, the transmission of electronic money
terminal setting data or an electronic money terminal operation
instruction is suspended, and the operation of the electronic money
terminal is thereby restricted.
[0028] Furthermore, as another mode of the present invention, the
first communication means may not be provided for the game machine
authentication management device but the first communication means
may be provided for the game machine. In such a case, when the game
machine authentication management device of the present invention
communicates with the computer network, the game machine
authentication management device carries out communications through
the second communication means and the first communication means
which communicate with the game machine.
[0029] Furthermore, as a further mode, the present invention may
also be implemented as a game device. That is, the present
invention provides a game device, including first communication
means configured to be connectable to a computer network and
communicable with an authentication server, first storage means for
storing ID data for authentication, second storage means for
storing authentication schedule data or a program to determine a
schedule according to which authentication should be requested from
the authentication server, a reader/writer section configured to be
communicable with at least one of an electronic money medium and an
apparatus with a built-in electronic money function and function
setting means configured to be able to generate an authentication
request to the authentication server, transmit the authentication
request and the ID data stored in the first storage means to the
authentication server through the first communication means,
receive the authentication result data indicating a success or
failure of authentication from the authentication server through
the first communication means and change a payment function for at
least one of the electronic money medium and the apparatus with a
built-in electronic money function based on the payment setting
data which defines a payment setting, wherein the function setting
means transmits the authentication request and the ID data to the
authentication server through the first communication means
according to a schedule based on at least one of the authentication
schedule data and the program of the second storage means, waits
for a response including the authentication result data from the
authentication server in a reception-enabled state within a
predetermined standby time, acquires authentication level data
which can indicate any one of the events that the authentication
result data indicating that authentication succeeded has been
received from the authentication server during the predetermined
standby time, that the authentication result data indicating that
authentication failed has been received from the server during the
predetermined standby time and that the authentication result data
has not been received during the predetermined standby time and
changes the payment function for at least one of the electronic
money medium and the apparatus with a built-in electronic money
function based on payment setting data according to the
authentication level data in at least one of the cases.
[0030] Here, the payment setting data refers to data which defines
the setting of a payment with electronic money and is similar to
the electronic money terminal setting data which has already been
explained.
[0031] Furthermore, as a still further, mode of the present
invention, the authentication scheduling server provided with the
instruction transmission means for transmitting an authentication
request generating instruction for causing the function setting
means to generate an authentication request to the function setting
means through the first communication means according to
authentication schedule data or a program is provided with second
storage means, and it is possible to transmit the authentication
request when the function setting means of the game machine
authentication management device receives the authentication
request generating instruction from the instruction transmission
means. This mode may also be realized in a mode in which the
present invention is implemented as a game device. The mode in
which the authentication scheduling server causes the instruction
transmission means to operate may be such that the game machine
authentication management device which is a client is always set in
a waiting state and data is transmitted from the server as PUSH
type data or another mode may be such that the game machine
authentication management device sends some request first and the
authentication scheduling server passively causes the instruction
transmission means to operate according to the request.
[0032] Moreover, the game machine authentication management device
or the game device of the present invention can set functions of
the game machine or send a game machine operation instruction. That
is, according to the present invention, the function setting means
is configured to be able to transmit game machine setting data
which defines the operable function of the game machine or a game
machine operation instruction according to the game machine setting
data to the game machine through the second communication means and
it is preferable, at least at any one of the above described
events, to transmit the game machine setting data or the game
machine operation instruction to the game machine through the
second communication means according to the authentication level
data or suspend the transmission of the game machine setting data
or the game machine operation instruction to the game machine
through the second communication means. The game machine setting
data defines operable functions of the game machine, but the game
machine may also include storage means for storing this game
machine setting data and the game machine may change its functions
with reference to the game machine setting data. Furthermore, the
game machine operation instruction is a command to cause the game
machine to perform a specific operation (e.g., starting a game or
the like). The game machine authentication management device stores
game machine setting data in some storage means and when an
explicit operation instruction is required from the game machine
authentication management device to the game machine or by the game
machine for the operation, the transmission of the game machine
setting data or the game machine operation instruction is suspended
and the operation of the game machine is thereby restricted. In
order to realize this, the game device of the present invention
incorporates the second communication means and the game machine
section of the game device uses means similar to that of the game
machine and realizes a function similar to that of the game
machine.
[0033] Furthermore, the game machine authentication management
device or the game device of the present invention preferably uses
a penalty setting server configured to be communicable with the
function setting means. This penalty setting server stores an
integrated penalty setting table in the storage means. The function
setting means refers to the integrated penalty setting table stored
in the penalty setting server through the first communication
means. The integrated penalty setting table stores the set value of
the electronic money terminal setting data (the set value of
payment setting data), the set value of the game machine setting
data and the set value of the display setting data in association
with their respective authentication levels so that the function
setting means can transmit or suspend the transmission of the
electronic money terminal setting data (payment setting data) and
the electronic money terminal operation instruction, transmit or
suspend the transmission of the game machine setting data and the
game machine operation instruction or control the display
means.
[0034] In the game machine authentication management device or the
game device of the present invention, the authentication scheduling
server preferably stores authentication pause schedule data which
defines at least one of the time at which authentication by the
authentication server should be performed or the time at which
authentication should be paused, the function setting means refers
to the authentication pause schedule data stored in the
authentication scheduling server according to at least one of the
authentication schedule data and the program stored in the second
storage means, determines whether or not it is the time at which
authentication by the authentication server should be performed and
transmits an authentication request and ID data to the
authentication server through the first communication means. This
authentication pause schedule data is also preferably stored in the
penalty setting server.
[0035] In the game machine authentication management device or the
game device of the present invention, the authentication scheduling
server preferably stores at least one of penalty disabling schedule
data which defines the times at which the penalty setting should be
enabled and disabled, the function setting means refers to the
penalty disabling schedule data stored in the authentication
scheduling server before or after transmitting an authentication
request and ID data to the authentication server and does not
transmit at least one of electronic money terminal setting data
(payment setting data), electronic money terminal operation
instruction, game machine setting data, game machine operation
instruction and display setting data corresponding to any one of
authentication level data that the authentication result data
indicating that authentication failed has been received from the
server during a predetermined standby time and that authentication
result data has not been received during the predetermined standby
time at least until the time at which the penalty setting should be
enabled next time or stops the suspension of the transmission of
the electronic money terminal setting data (payment setting data),
electronic money terminal operation instruction, game machine
setting data, game machine operation instruction and display
setting data corresponding to the authentication level data that
the authentication result data indicating that authentication
succeeded has been received from the authentication server during
the predetermined standby time until the time. This penalty
disabling schedule data is also preferably stored in the penalty
setting server.
[0036] The game machine authentication management device or the
game device according to the present invention preferably further
includes third storage means for storing a unit penalty setting
table which stores set values corresponding to the authentication
levels about at least one of the setting of operable functions of
the electronic money terminal (or setting of payment with
electronic money), the setting of operable functions of the game
machine and setting of display contents, wherein the function
setting means refers to the unit penalty setting table, transmits,
at least at any one of the events, electronic money terminal
setting data (payment setting data), electronic money terminal
operation instruction, game machine setting data, game machine
operation instruction and display setting data or suspends the
transmission of the electronic money terminal setting data (payment
setting data), electronic money terminal operation instruction,
game machine setting data, game machine operation instruction and
display setting data.
[0037] In the game machine authentication management device or the
game device of the present invention, any one of the integrated
penalty setting table and the unit penalty setting table preferably
includes a first setting table and a second setting table, the
function setting means refers to the first setting table for a
predetermined penalty suspension period after receiving an
authentication result or after acquiring authentication level data,
refers to the second setting table after the lapse of the penalty
suspension period and the first setting table and the second
setting table are configured to be different from each other in the
set value for at least one of values of the authentication
levels.
[0038] The present invention also realizes a method of causing the
above described game machine authentication management device or
the game device to operate and also a computer program to cause the
computer to operate as the above described game machine
authentication management device.
[0039] Furthermore, the present invention also provides a penalty
setting server to be used for a game machine authentication
management device configured to be able to communicate with the
function setting means through the first communication means of the
above described game machine authentication management device or
the game device through a computer network, including storage means
for storing an integrated penalty setting table and outside
communication means communicable with an outside network connected
to any one of a computer network and another computer network
logically separated from the computer network, wherein the
integrated penalty setting table is configured to be rewritable
from a maintenance computer which is in the outside network through
the outside communication means.
[0040] The game machine authentication management device or the
game device according to the present invention transmits electronic
money terminal setting data corresponding to authentication level
data which can indicate any one of the events that the
authentication result data indicating that authentication succeeded
has been received from the authentication server during a
predetermined standby time, that authentication result data
indicating that authentication failed has been received from the
server during the predetermined standby time and that
authentication result data has not been received during the
predetermined standby time to the electronic money terminal or
changes the payment function for at least one of an electronic
money medium and a device with a built-in electronic money function
based on the payment setting data according to the authentication
level data. Therefore, when managed the game machine using
authentication, it is possible to transmit electronic money
terminal setting data according to the authentication level and
change the payment function of electronic money, appropriately
manage payment with electronic money and appropriately use payment
with electronic money except in cases with actual unauthorized use
or the like.
[0041] When using the authentication scheduling server which stores
authentication schedule data or a program in the game machine
authentication management device or the game device of the present
invention, it is possible to use a common scheduling server for a
plurality of game machines and manage an authentication schedule in
a centralized manner and easily manage many game machines
appropriately.
[0042] Furthermore, the game machine authentication management
device or the game device of the present invention can transmit the
game machine setting data to the game machine according to the
level of authentication, appropriately manage the game machine and
moreover appropriately use the game machine except in cases with
actual unauthorized use or the like.
[0043] Moreover, when the function setting means of the game
machine authentication management device or the game device refers
to the integrated penalty setting table of the penalty setting
server, it is possible to use a common penalty setting server for a
plurality of game machines, manage the display settings of the game
machine, the electronic money terminal and the game machine
authentication management device in a centralized manner and more
easily manage many game machines appropriately.
[0044] Furthermore, the present invention provides a game machine
authentication management device, including first communication
means configured to be connectable to a computer network and
communicable with an authentication server, second communication
means configured to be communicable with a game machine, first
storage means for storing ID data for authentication, second
storage means for storing authentication schedule data or a program
to determine a schedule according to which authentication should be
requested from the authentication server, an electronic money
terminal including a reader/writer section configured to be
communicable with any one of an electronic money medium and an
apparatus with a built-in electronic money function, configured to
be communicable through the second communication means or third
communication means, function setting means configured to be able
to generate an authentication request to the authentication server,
transmit the authentication request and the ID data stored in the
first storage means to the authentication server through the first
communication means, receive the authentication result data
indicating a success or failure of authentication from the
authentication server through the first communication means and
transmit electronic money terminal setting data which defines
operable functions of the electronic money terminal or an
electronic money terminal operation instruction according to the
electronic money terminal setting data to the electronic money
terminal through the second communication means or the third
communication means, manual clock setting means capable of
receiving a manual time setting and stopping the reception of the
manual time setting based on a signal from the function setting
means, a clock which can be set to an arbitrary time by the manual
clock setting means and the function setting means and time storage
means for storing a time at which authentication succeeded last
time, wherein the function setting means determines a schedule
according to at least one of the authentication schedule data and
the program of the second storage means using the time of the
clock, transmits the authentication request and the ID data to the
authentication server through the first communication means
according to a schedule, waits for a response including the
authentication result data from the authentication server in a
reception-enabled state within a predetermined standby time,
stores, when authentication result data indicating that
authentication succeeded is received from the authentication server
during a predetermined standby time, any one of the time data of
the clock and authentication time data included in the
authentication result data in the time storage means and transmits,
when the authentication result data indicating that authentication
succeeded is not received during a predetermined standby time, a
signal of stopping the reception of the manual time setting to the
manual clock setting means, acquires authentication level data
which can indicate any one of the events that the authentication
result data indicating that authentication succeeded has been
received from the authentication server during the predetermined
standby time, that the authentication result data indicating that
authentication failed has been received from the server during the
predetermined standby time and that the authentication result data
has not been received during the predetermined standby time and
transmits the electronic money terminal setting data or electronic
money terminal operation instruction according to the
authentication level data to the electronic money terminal through
the second communication means or third communication means at
least at any one of the events or suspends the transmission of the
electronic money terminal setting data or the electronic money
terminal operation instruction through the second communication
means or third communication means according to the authentication
level data at least at any one of the events.
[0045] Here, in the present invention, the electronic money
terminal setting data in general is data to determine operation of
an electronic money terminal and the electronic money terminal
operation instruction is a command to cause the electronic money
terminal to perform a specific operation (e.g., billing of a
predetermined amount of money on electronic money or the like).
When the electronic money terminal setting data is stored in the
apparatus authentication management device, the apparatus
authentication management device transmits an electronic money
terminal operation instruction according to the electronic money
terminal setting data and the electronic money terminal operates
accordingly. Furthermore, when the electronic money terminal is
provided with some storage means, the apparatus authentication
management device transmits the electronic money terminal setting
data itself and the electronic money terminal performs an operation
according to the electronic money terminal setting data.
Furthermore, in the present invention, timing for transmitting
electronic money terminal setting data and an electronic money
terminal operation instruction in general is not particularly
limited. For example, the game machine authentication management
device of the present invention may store the authentication level
data either the storage means or the electronic money terminal
setting data and an electronic money terminal operation instruction
according to the authentication level data may be transmitted only
after a signal reporting that an attempt to perform payment using
electronic money is being made has been received from the
electronic money terminal through the second communication means or
third communication means. Furthermore, the game machine
authentication management device of the present invention may
acquire the authentication level data, immediately transmit the
electronic money terminal setting data and the electronic money
terminal may store the data and change its operation.
[0046] Furthermore, according to the present invention, electronic
money terminal setting data or an electronic money terminal
operation instruction according to the authentication level data in
general is transmitted to the electronic money terminal through the
second communication means or third communication means or the
transmission of the electronic money terminal setting data or the
electronic money terminal operation instruction through the second
communication means or the third communication means is suspended
according to the authentication level data in at least one of the
cases. The specific configuration of the data or an instruction in
the electronic money terminal setting data or an electronic money
terminal operation instruction is determined by the mounting
specification of the electronic money terminal. Therefore, when,
for example, the electronic money terminal has a plurality of
operating modes and when the operating mode of the electronic money
terminal is switched according to the authentication level data or
the like, the electronic money terminal setting data or an
electronic money terminal operation instruction is transmitted to
the electronic money terminal through the second communication
means or the third communication means. Furthermore, when the
electronic money terminal requires an explicit operation
instruction for the operation, the transmission of electronic money
terminal setting data or an electronic money terminal operation
instruction is suspended, and the operation of the electronic money
terminal is thereby restricted.
[0047] Furthermore, as another mode of the present invention, the
first communication means may not be provided for the game machine
authentication management device but the first communication means
may be provided for the game machine. In such a case, when the game
machine authentication management device of the present invention
communicates with the computer network, the game machine
authentication management device carries out communications through
the second communication means and the first communication means
which communicate with the game machine.
[0048] Furthermore, in the game machine authentication management
device of the present invention, the above described manual clock
setting means, the above described clock and the above time storage
means are provided not for the game machine authentication
management device but for the game machine, and the above described
function setting means can transmit an instruction for causing the
manual clock setting means of the game machine to stop the
reception of the manual time setting through the second
communication means.
[0049] Moreover, as another mode, the present invention may also be
implemented as a game device. That is, the present invention
provides a game device, including first communication means
configured to be connectable to a computer network and communicable
with an authentication server, first storage means for storing ID
data for authentication, second storage means for storing
authentication schedule data or a program to determine a schedule
according to which authentication should be requested from the
authentication server, a reader/writer section configured to be
communicable with at least one of an electronic money medium or an
apparatus with a built-in electronic money function, and function
setting means configured to be able to generate an authentication
request to the authentication server, transmit the authentication
request and the ID data stored in the first storage means to the
authentication server through the first communication means,
receive the authentication result data indicating a success or
failure of authentication from the authentication server through
the first communication means and change a payment function for at
least one of the electronic money medium and the apparatus with a
built-in electronic money function based on the payment setting
data which defines a payment setting, manual clock setting means
capable of receiving a manual time setting and stopping the
reception of the manual time setting based on a signal from the
function setting means, a clock which can be set to an arbitrary
time by the manual clock setting means and the function setting
means and time storage means for storing a time at which
authentication succeeded last time, wherein the function setting
means determines a schedule according to at least one of the
authentication schedule data and the program of the second storage
means using the time indicated by the clock, transmits the
authentication request and the ID data to the authentication server
through the first communication means according to the schedule,
waits for a response including the authentication result data from
the authentication server in a reception-enabled state within a
predetermined standby time, stores, when authentication result data
indicating that authentication succeeded is received from the
authentication server during the predetermined standby time, any
one of the time data of the clock and the authentication time data
included in the authentication result data in the time storage
means, transmits, when authentication result data indicating that
authentication succeeded is not received from the authentication
server during the predetermined standby time, a signal for causing
the manual clock setting means to stop the reception of the manual
time setting, acquires authentication level data which can indicate
any one of the events that the authentication result data
indicating that authentication succeeded has been received from the
authentication server during the predetermined standby time, that
the authentication result data indicating that authentication
failed has been received from the server during the predetermined
standby time and that the authentication result data has not been
received during the predetermined standby time and changes the
payment function for at least one of the electronic money medium
and the apparatus with a built-in electronic money function based
on payment setting data according to the authentication level data
at least at any one of the above described events.
[0050] Here, the payment setting data refers to data which defines
the setting of a payment with electronic money and is similar to
the electronic money terminal setting data which has already been
explained.
[0051] Furthermore, the game machine authentication management
device or the game device of the present invention can set
functions of the game machine. That is, according to the present
invention, the function setting means is preferably configured to
be able to transmit a game machine operation instruction according
to the game machine setting data or the game machine setting data
which defines the operable functions of the game machine to the
game machine through the second communication means, transmit, at
least at any one of the above described events, the game machine
setting data or the game machine operation instruction to the game
machine according to the authentication level data through the
second communication means or suspend the transmission of the game
machine setting data or the game machine operation instruction to
the game machine through the second communication means. The game
machine setting data defines operable functions of the game
machine, but the game machine may be provided with storage means
for storing this game machine setting data and the game machine
itself may also change its functions with reference to the game
machine setting data. Furthermore, the game machine operation
instruction is a command to cause the game machine to perform a
specific operation (e.g., starting a game or the like). The game
machine authentication management device stores game machine
setting data in some storage means and when an explicit operation
instruction is required from the game machine authentication
management device to the game machine or by the game machine for
the operation, the transmission of the game machine setting data or
the game machine operation instruction is suspended and the
operation of the game machine is thereby restricted. In order to
realize this, the game device of the present invention incorporates
the second communication means and the game machine section of the
game device uses means similar to that of the game machine and
realizes a function similar to that of the game machine.
[0052] Furthermore, the game machine authentication management
device or the game device of the present invention preferably
further includes display means whose display contents can be
changed and display control means for controlling the display means
and the function setting means generates display setting data which
defines display contents according to the authentication level
data, transmits the display setting data to the display control
means and the display control means controls the display means so
that the display means displays display contents according to the
display setting data at least at any one of the above described
events or controls the display means so that the display means
stops the display according to the display setting data.
[0053] The game machine authentication management device or the
game device of the present invention preferably further uses a
penalty setting server configured to be communicable with the
function setting means. This penalty setting server stores an
integrated penalty setting table in the storage means. The function
setting means refers to the integrated penalty setting table stored
in the penalty setting server through the first communication
means. The integrated penalty setting table stores the set value of
the electronic money terminal setting data (set value of payment
setting data), the set value of the game machine setting data and
the set value of the display setting data in association with their
respective authentication levels so that the function setting means
can transmit the electronic money terminal setting data (payment
setting data) and the electronic money terminal setting
instruction, transmit the game machine setting data and the game
machine setting instruction or transmit the display setting data or
suspend the transmissions thereof.
[0054] The penalty setting server used together with the game
machine authentication management device or the game device of the
present invention preferably stores the authentication pause
schedule data which defines at least one of the time at which
authentication by the authentication server should be executed and
the time at which authentication should be paused, the function
setting means refers to the authentication pause schedule data
stored in the penalty setting server according to at least one of
the authentication schedule data and the program stored in the
second storage means, determines whether or not it is the time at
which authentication by the authentication server should be
executed and transmits an authentication request and ID data to the
authentication server through the first communication means.
[0055] The game machine authentication management device or the
game device according to the present invention preferably further
includes third storage means for storing a unit penalty setting
table which stores set values corresponding to the authentication
levels about at least one of the setting of operable functions of
the electronic money terminal, the setting of operable functions of
the game machine and the setting of display contents, wherein the
function setting means refers to the unit penalty setting table,
transmits, at least at any one of the above described events,
electronic money terminal setting data (payment setting data),
electronic money terminal operation instruction, game machine
setting data, game machine operation instruction and display
setting data or suspends the transmission of the electronic money
terminal setting data (payment setting data), electronic money
terminal operation instruction, game machine setting data, game
machine operation instruction and display setting data.
[0056] In the game machine authentication management device or the
game device of the present invention, the function setting means
preferably transmits, after the time of the clock has passed a
predetermined suspension period from the time at which
authentication succeeded last time and which is stored in the time
storage means, electronic money terminal setting data (payment
setting data) or an electronic money terminal operation instruction
according to the authentication level data which indicates any one
of the events that the authentication result data indicating that
authentication failed has been received from the server during a
predetermined standby time and that the authentication result data
has not been received during the predetermined standby time or
suspends the transmission of the electronic money terminal setting
data (payment setting data) or the electronic money terminal
operation instruction according to the authentication level data
indicating an event that the authentication result data indicating
that authentication succeeded has been received from the server
during a predetermined standby time. This function setting means
more preferably uses different predetermined suspension periods in
the case where the authentication level data indicates the event
that the authentication result data indicating that authentication
failed has been received from the server during a predetermined
standby time and in the case where the authentication level data
indicates the event that the authentication result data has not
been received during the predetermined standby time.
[0057] In the game machine authentication management device or the
game device of the present invention, the integrated penalty
setting table preferably includes a first setting table and a
second setting table, the function setting means refers to the
first setting table when the authentication level data indicates an
event that the authentication result data indicating that
authentication failed has been received from the server during a
predetermined standby time and refers to the second setting table
when the authentication level data indicates an event that the
authentication result data has not been received during the
predetermined standby time and the first setting table and the
second setting table are configured to have different set values
for at least one of values of the authentication levels.
[0058] In the game machine authentication management device or the
game device of the present invention, the unit penalty setting
table includes a first setting table and a second setting table,
the function setting means refers to the first setting table when
the authentication level data indicates an event that the
authentication result data indicating that authentication failed
has been received from the server during the predetermined standby
time and refers to the second setting table when the authentication
level data indicates an event that the authentication result data
has not been received during the predetermined standby time, and
the first setting table and the second setting table are configured
to have different set values for at least one of values of the
authentication levels.
[0059] The present invention also implements a method of operating
the above described game machine authentication management device
or the game device and a computer program for causing a computer to
operate as the above described game machine authentication
management device.
[0060] Furthermore, the present invention provides a penalty
setting server to be used for the above described game machine
authentication management device or game device configured to be
communicable with the function setting means through the first
communication means of the game machine authentication management
device or the game device, including storage means for storing an
integrated penalty setting table and outside communication means
communicable with an outside network connected to any one of a
computer network and another computer network logically separated
from the computer network, wherein the integrated penalty setting
table is configured to be rewritable from a maintenance computer in
the outside network through the outside communication means.
[0061] The game machine authentication management device or the
game device of the present invention stores, when authentication
succeeds, the time thereof and causes, when authentication fails,
the manual clock setting means 122 to stop the reception of the
manual time setting.
[0062] Furthermore, the game machine authentication management
device or the game device of the present invention transmits
electronic money terminal setting data according to the
authentication level data which can indicate any one of the events
that the authentication result data indicating that authentication
succeeded has been received from the authentication server during a
predetermined standby time, that the authentication result data
indicating that authentication failed has been received from the
server during the predetermined standby time and that the
authentication result data has not been received during the
predetermined standby time to the electronic money terminal or
changes the payment function for at least one of an electronic
money medium and an apparatus with a built-in electronic money
function based on payment setting data according to the
authentication level data. Therefore, it is possible to prevent
unauthorized use through the manual setting function of the clock,
transmit, when managing a game machine using authentication, the
electronic money terminal setting data according to the level of
authentication, change the payment function of electronic money,
appropriately manage payment with electronic money and also
appropriately use payment with electronic money except in cases
with actual unauthorized use or the like.
[0063] When using the authentication scheduling server which stores
authentication schedule data or a program, it is possible, for
example, to use a common scheduling server for a plurality of game
machines, manage the authentication schedule in a centralized
manner and manage many game machines more easily and
appropriately.
[0064] Furthermore, it is possible to transmit the game machine
setting data according to the level of authentication,
appropriately manage the game machine and appropriately use the
game machine except in cases with actual unauthorized use.
[0065] Furthermore, when the function setting means of the game
machine authentication management device or the game device of the
present invention refers to the integrated penalty setting table of
the penalty setting server, it is possible to manage the settings
of the game machine and the electronic money terminal, the display
of the game machine authentication management device in a
centralized manner using a common penalty setting server for a
plurality of game machines and thereby manage many game machines
more easily and appropriately.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0066] FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing the overall
configuration of a game machine authentication system including a
game machine authentication management device and a penalty setting
server according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0067] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a
dedicated unit (game machine authentication management device)
according to the embodiment of the present invention;
[0068] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a
game machine according to the embodiment of the present
invention;
[0069] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a
dedicated unit (game machine authentication management device)
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0070] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a
game machine according to the other embodiment of the present
invention;
[0071] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a
penalty setting server used in the embodiment of the present
invention;
[0072] FIG. 7 is a system configuration diagram showing the overall
configuration of a game machine authentication system according to
a further embodiment of the present invention;
[0073] FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing processing of a game machine
authentication management device 10 according to an embodiment of
the present invention; and
[0074] FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing processing of a game machine
authentication management device 10 according to another embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0075] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be
explained with reference to the attached drawings.
[0076] FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing the overall
configuration of a game machine authentication system including a
game machine authentication management device and a penalty setting
server according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2
is a block diagram showing the configuration of the game machine
authentication management device and electronic money terminal of
the present invention and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an
example of the configuration of a game machine managed by the game
machine authentication management device of the present
invention.
[0077] The game machine authentication system 1000 shown in FIG. 1
is constructed of a plurality of computers or apparatuses using a
computer network 500 connecting a plurality of sites. The "computer
network" in the present invention refers to an arbitrary network in
which computers can communicate data with each other according to
an appropriate protocol, includes the computer network 500 (e.g.,
the Internet) connecting between a plurality of sites and further
includes networks such as an intranet within each site. The
computer network 500 which connects between a plurality of sites is
also called "WAN (Wide Area Network)" and a network within a site
is also called "LAN (Local Area Network)."
[0078] The game machine authentication system 1000 shown in FIG. 1
is provided with an authentication server 24 at a data center site
200. This authentication server 24 is typically managed, not by an
operator who manages each amusement facility store, but by a game
system provider who provides the operator with a game machine 180
and undertakes system management of the game machine 180 from the
operator. However, the present invention is not limited to such a
commercial mode. The authentication server 24 is connected to the
WAN 500 via an appropriate router 22. Here, the authentication
server is an arbitrary server computer which is connected to a
computer network thereof and has the function of performing
authentication. This authentication is performed to authenticate
whether or not ID data for authentication is authentic and thereby
authenticate whether or not a game machine authentication
management apparatus 10 (hereinafter, referred to as a "dedicated
unit") is authentic and whether or not the game machine 180 in
which the dedicated unit 10 is mounted is installed in an
appropriate place. Though not limited particularly, when a network
open to the public such as the Internet is used as the computer
network 500, it is possible to include appropriate encryption
processing or the like and prevent skimming, tampering or the like
of the ID data.
[0079] In the game machine authentication system 1000 shown in FIG.
1, an amusement facility store site 100 is provided with a game
machine 180A and a game machine 180B. The amusement facility store
site 100 has a LAN and the LAN is connected to the outside WAN 500
via an appropriate router 160. The game machines 180A, 180B are not
only game machines per se such as a video game machine for playing
a video game or a prize game machine aimed at prize winning,
whereby the player can play the game, but also a medal dispensing
machine to provide medals or the like which can be used for the
game machine by paying the corresponding amount of money. As shown
by the figure with two game machines 180A, 180B within the
amusement facility store site 100, the game machine authentication
system 1000 can be provided with a plurality of game machines 180.
Only one amusement facility store site 100 is described in the
figure, but the game machine authentication system 1000 may also
include other amusement facility store sites and a plurality of
game machines 180 may also be included in the plurality of store
sites.
[0080] The amusement facility store site 100 in FIG. 1 is provided
with the dedicated unit 10 accompanying the game machines 180A,
180B and also includes a store server 140 and a management operator
computer 150. The operator computer 150 is used for the purpose of
management not related to authentication by the operator who
manages the amusement facility store. For example, the operator
computer 150 is connected to the LAN of the amusement facility
store and used to generate a message to the player displayed on a
display device 118 (FIG. 2) of the dedicated unit 10 directly which
is directly connected to the LAN and perform various kinds of
management of the game machines connected to the LAN through the
dedicated unit 10.
[0081] An electronic money issuer also participates in the game
machine authentication system 1000. The "electronic money issuer"
refers to a company or the like which issues electronic money. The
electronic money issuer receives payment with normal currency from
a holder of electronic money and provides a usable electronic money
medium 130 to the holder according to the amount of payment. When
the holder uses electronic money to pay for some goods or service,
the electronic money issuer executes payment with currency
according to the amount of payment for the person who received the
payment with electronic money. In the embodiment of the present
invention, the electronic money issuer may be, for example, an
entity which provides an infrastructure of electronic money or a
credit card issuing company or a prepaid card issuing company. This
electronic money issuer is connected to the computer network 500 at
an electronic money issuer site 300. The electronic money issuer
site 300 is typically provided with an electronic money server 34
which records the amount of money given/received for each
electronic money medium 130 and for each electronic money terminal
and receives information from each electronic money terminal
through the computer network 500. There are various modes in which
the electronic money terminal 34 sums the amount of electronic
money given/received and, for example, in stored value-type
electronic money, the electronic money terminal 34 performs
summation from each electronic money terminal 34 once a day. The
electronic money terminal 34 is provided with the function of
identifying each electronic money medium 130 and keeping a log of
the amount of electronic money given/received using the electronic
money terminal.
[0082] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the
dedicated unit 10 (game machine authentication management device)
according to the embodiment of the present invention. The dedicated
unit 10 is provided with several storage means. Here, the storage
means is one that can record data into a volatile or non-volatile
arbitrary data recording medium unless otherwise specified and, for
example, a volatile memory such as a register in a CPU, DRAM, or
rewritable nonvolatile memory such as flash memory, EEPROM
(Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), hard disk
drive or read-only nonvolatile memory such as a mask ROM can be
used. A rewritable or read-only optical disk such as a CD, DVD can
also be used instead of or together with these memories.
Furthermore, the logical format thereof is also arbitrary and
refers to logically identifiable arbitrary storage means such as a
binary format, ASCII text file, part of a relational database file,
file managed by some operating system, combination of records of a
list format file.
[0083] The dedicated unit 10 is provided with first storage means
102. The first storage means 102 is typically realized by an EEPROM
or the like and stores ID data for authentication. The ID data for
authentication includes ID data for identifying, for example, a
dedicated unit and an electronic circuit board of an electronic
money terminal as values indicating the game machine authentication
management device. Furthermore, the ID data can include data which
identifies the place where the game machine 180 is located (for
example, global IP address which is given to a place of
installation), and it is also possible to extract the place where
the game machine 180 is located from, for example, a frame of
communication data and make it as part of the ID data instead of
the contents of communication data itself. As another mode of the
data which identifies the place where this game machine 180 is
located, private IP addresses assigned appropriately for different
amusement facility stores so as not to overlap with each other may
also be included in the ID data. In this case, even when a global
IP address of the amusement facility store is automatically
assigned from a higher ISP (Internet Service Provider) through DHCP
(Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), it is possible to identify
the amusement facility store and identify the place where the game
machine 180 is located. Moreover, the ID data can include data
which identifies the game machine 180 or the like. The ID data may
be a combination of a plurality of these data. It is possible to
identify the place where the game machine 180 in which this
dedicated unit 10 is mounted is operating from the relationship
between individual ID data of the dedicated unit 10 and a value
indicating the place of installation.
[0084] The dedicated unit 10 is provided with second storage means
104. The second storage means 104 is also typically realized by an
EEPROM or the like and stores a schedule according to which
authentication should be requested. The "schedule according to
which authentication should be requested" refers to arbitrary data
which can specify the timing for requesting authentication.
Examples of this timing include specification of timing with an
appropriate repetition period such as once a day, specification of
timing using an appropriate time such as a specific time of the
day, specification of timing further combining the day of the week
on which to perform authentication and specification of timing
associated with an appropriate event (e.g., start-up of the game
machine authentication management device), though not using any
specific time or period. The data of the schedule according to
which authentication should be requested can be stored in the
second storage means 104 in an appropriate format and the
authentication schedule may also be directly specified in the
program.
[0085] The dedicated unit 10 can also be further provided with
third storage means 106. This third storage means 106 stores a unit
penalty setting table which stores set values corresponding to an
authentication level about at least one of a setting of operable
functions of an electronic money terminal 134, a setting of
operable functions of the game machine 180 and a setting of display
contents of the display device 118. The third storage means 106 is
also typically realized by an EEPROM or the like.
[0086] The dedicated unit 10 may be further provided with time
storage means 108 in addition to the above described storage means.
This time storage means 108 is used to store a time at which
authentication succeeded last time.
[0087] The dedicated unit 10 can be further provided with an RTC
(Real Time Clock) 124 which functions as a clock which can reset
the time. This RTC 124 is provided with an appropriate backup
battery (not shown) and can continue to time even when power to the
dedicated unit 10 is stopped or the like. Furthermore, the RTC 124
is connected with manual clock setting means 122 which can accept
the manual time setting of the RTC 124 and can also stop the manual
time setting based on a signal from function setting means 114.
When the time of the RTC 124 is manually changed, the time can be
adjusted by operating the manual clock setting means 122 with input
using appropriate input means (not shown).
[0088] The dedicated unit 10 is further provided with first
communication means 110. The first communication means 110 is an
appropriate network interface and is typically an Ethernet
(registered trademark) interface or the like which operates with an
appropriate bus. The first communication means 110 is connected
with the LAN within the amusement facility store site 100. This
first communication means 110 is connectable to the WAN 500 (FIG.
1) through the router 160 and communicable with the authentication
server 24.
[0089] The dedicated unit 10 is further provided with second
communication means 112. The second communication means 112 is
arbitrary communication means capable of carrying out a local data
communication with the game machine 180 and is appropriate
communication means using an interface such as RS-232C, USB
(Universal Serial Bus), IEEE1394 or the like.
[0090] The dedicated unit 10 is further provided with the
electronic money terminal 134. Here, "electronic money" generally
refers to payment means which can realize payment by exchanging
electronic data instead of currency. That is, electronic money
typically refers to stored value-type electronic money using the IC
card 130 which becomes the electronic money medium or a medium
incorporated in the apparatus, but in addition to this, electronic
money can be used as payment means such as a so-called prepaid
card, credit card and debit card for which eventual payment with
currency is assured, capable of carrying out payment by reading
electronic data. Since a medium such as the IC card 130 or an
apparatus with a built-in electronic money function (e.g., cellular
phone terminal) or the like is used, such an electronic money
terminal 134 is provided with a reader/writer 136 configured to be
communicable with such a medium or apparatus to enable payment with
electronic money. This electronic money terminal 134 is provided
with communication means 138 which can communicate with the second
communication means 112 of the dedicated unit 10 or third
communication means (not shown). The second communication means is
used when the electronic money terminal can communicate with the
game machine management device using the second communication
means, while the third communication means is used when the
electronic money terminal cannot communicate with the game machine
management device using the second communication means. This third
communication means is an arbitrary communication means and can
carry out a communication through a normal serial communication or
the like using, for example, an RS-232C terminal. The IC card 130
is carried by a player in the amusement facility store to pay for
their own game and incorporates an IC memory 132 storing balance
data and data to identify the IC card 130.
[0091] The electronic money terminal 134 is a terminal which makes
a payment using the IC card 130 instead of payment using currency
and is a terminal which should be used only by a registered
terminal in a registered place of installation. The dedicated unit
10 of the present invention uses authentication to assure
authenticity and correctness of the place of installation required
for this electronic money terminal 134.
[0092] The dedicated unit 10 of the present invention has the
function setting means 114. When the game machine authentication
management device is a processor base system, this function setting
means 114 is the function means realized by a calculation apparatus
such as a CPU and a main memory 120 such as a RAM is used and a
specific procedure of the information processing is specified by
the program stored in the appropriate non-volatile storage device
(e.g., second storage means 104).
[0093] This function setting means 114 can generate an
authentication request to the authentication server 24 and transmit
the authentication request and the ID data stored in the first
storage means 102 to the authentication server 24 (FIG. 1) through
the first communication means and receive the authentication result
data showing the success or failure of the authentication from the
authentication server 24 through the first communication means 110.
Furthermore, the function setting means 114 can transmit the
electronic money terminal setting data which defines the operable
functions of the electronic money terminal 134 to the game machine
180 through the second communication means 112 or the third
communication means. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the second
communication means 112 carries out this transmission. The
electronic money terminal setting data is a data signal in an
arbitrary format and is the data which can determine whether or not
the functions such as the medium reading function and payment
function of the electronic money terminal 134 are operable. When
the electronic money terminal has some storage means, these
electronic money terminal setting data are stored in the electronic
money terminal and the electronic money terminal can determine its
functions. Furthermore, when the function and operation as the
electronic money terminal are determined according to an external
instruction (electronic money terminal operation instruction), the
function setting means 114 can also transmit an electronic money
terminal operation instruction to the electronic money terminal 134
through the second communication means or the third communication
means. Examples of the operable functions of the electronic money
terminal 134 include a payment function using electronic money, a
summation function using electronic money when this electronic
money terminal has a mechanism of summation processing and a unit
price setting function which sets the unit price of payment using
electronic money or the like.
[0094] A more specific operation of this function setting means 114
is to determine a schedule determined by at least one of the
authentication schedule data of the second storage means 104 and
program using the time indicated by the RTC 124 first. This
determines whether or not to send an authentication request.
According to the schedule, the authentication request and ID data
are transmitted to the authentication server 24 (FIG. 1) through
the first communication means 110. The function setting means 114
then waits for a response including the authentication result data
from the authentication server 24 within a predetermined standby
time in a reception-enabled state. This standby time is a time
determined in consideration of a time of communication on the
network during a time related to the authentication of the
authentication server 24 such as 10 seconds and 1 minute. The
authentication result data is data which is communicated according
to an appropriate protocol and includes data indicating whether
authentication succeeded or failed and the format thereof is
optional.
[0095] Since this authentication may result in a case of receiving
authentication result data of authentication succeeded from the
authentication server 24 during a predetermined standby time
(hereinafter referred to as "authentication OK"), a case of
receiving authentication result data of authentication failed from
the authentication server 24 during a predetermined standby time
(hereinafter referred to as "authentication NG") or a case of not
receiving authentication result data during a predetermined standby
time (hereinafter referred to as "timeout"), the function setting
means 114 obtains data (authentication level data) indicating the
level of authentication according to these cases. This data can be
data, for example, combining appropriate flags.
[0096] Here, in the case of receiving the authentication result
data of authentication succeeded from the authentication server
during this standby time (case of authentication OK), the function
setting means 114 stores any one of the time data of the clock and
the authentication time data included in the authentication result
data in the time storage means 108. On the other hand, in the case
of not receiving the authentication result data of authentication
succeeded from the authentication server during a predetermined
standby time (case of authentication NG or timeout), the function
setting means 114 transmits a signal to the manual clock setting
means 122 to stop the reception of the manual time setting. When
authentication fails, this prevents the time from being manually
reset.
[0097] In at least one of these cases, the function setting means
114 transmits electronic money terminal setting data according to
the authentication level data to the electronic money terminal 134
through the second communication means 112 or the third
communication means. Alternatively, the electronic money terminal
134 of a different specification can also be used. That is, it is
possible to adopt such a specification that the electronic money
terminal 134 transmits a signal reporting that a game player is
attempting to use electronic money by holding up the IC card 130 of
electronic money to make a payment with electronic money and the
electronic money terminal 134 also transmits the balance data
recorded in the memory 132 of the IC card 130 of the electronic
money. In the case of such a specification, the function setting
means 114 can judge the signal and balance data from the electronic
money terminal 134 and the function setting means 114 can transmit
an electronic money terminal operation instruction for extracting
data of a predetermined amount of money from the IC card 130
whereby the player is attempting to make a payment at that moment
through the second communication means or the third communication
means.
[0098] For example, the function setting means 114 can transmit
electronic money terminal setting data only in the case of
authentication NG or timeout and not transmit electronic money
terminal setting data in the case of authentication OK. To which
authentication level data the electronic money terminal setting
data should be transmitted also depends on the setting as to how
the electronic money terminal 134 uses the electronic money
terminal setting data for the setting of the operation functions.
For example, if the electronic money terminal 134 is designed such
that when the electronic money terminal setting data is not
received, all functions of the electronic money terminal 134 are
operable and restricting the functions of the electronic money
terminal 134 requires explicit restrictions with the electronic
money terminal setting data, it is possible to prevent the
electronic money terminal setting data from being transmitted in
the case of authentication OK and allow the electronic money
terminal setting data to be transmitted in the case of
authentication NG or timeout.
[0099] Furthermore, as another example, in such a case where an
electronic money terminal operation instruction is necessary for
the electronic money terminal 134 to operate, the function setting
means 114 can transmit an electronic money terminal operation
instruction for causing the electronic money terminal to make a
payment in response to a request from the electronic money terminal
only in the case of authentication OK and not transmit such an
instruction in the cases of authentication NG and timeout. To which
authentication level data an electronic money terminal operation
instruction should be transmitted is determined depending on the
actual operation of penalties.
[0100] ID data for authentication is registered beforehand in
appropriate storage means of the authentication server 24 (FIG. 1).
With the ID data registered beforehand, the authentication server
24 can determine whether or not authentication should be concluded
for the ID data transmitted together with the authentication
request from the dedicated unit 10.
[0101] It is when the authentication server 24 receives the
authentication result of authentication succeeded from the ID data
during a standby time that the authentication result becomes
authentication OK. Such an authentication result is obtained when,
for example, the game machine 180 managed by the dedicated unit 10
is authentic and the game machine 180 is installed in a place where
it is supposed to be installed.
[0102] It is when the authentication server 24 receives an
authentication result of authentication failed from the ID data
during the standby time that the authentication result becomes
authentication NG. Examples of cases where such events actually
occur include a case where the dedicated unit is counterfeited, a
case where the dedicated unit is used in an unapproved place though
it is a regular dedicated unit or a case where communication data
is tampered. Besides, there is also a case where a simple
operational mistake results in authentication NG. This operational
mistake occurs when, for example, the dedicated unit not registered
in the authentication server 24 is used or when the business
location in which the game machine 180 is installed is a place not
registered in the authentication server 24.
[0103] The authentication result times out when the authentication
result data is not received within the standby time. Examples of
such cases include a case where some communication trouble has
occurred, typically a case disconnection of the network cable,
malfunction of LAN in a store (e.g., malfunction of the network
hub, breakage of a cable or the like) or trouble of the router 60
which connects the LAN with the WAN 500, interruption of the WAN
500 due to maintenance work or the like, authentication server 24
going down (not operating normally) or the like.
[0104] A timeout is often the cause for authentication not becoming
ON in a communication at a store of an actual amusement facility
and authentication does not often result in NG. When authentication
NG results, there is a doubt about an operational mistake by the
operator or unauthorized use by the operator. On the other hand, a
timeout is often caused by trouble in the LAN, WAN or the like at
the amusement facility managed by the operator. Therefore, handling
the case of authentication NG and the case of a timeout across the
board on the grounds that they are not cases of authentication OK
may place an excessive business burden on the operator. Therefore,
the present invention can change at least one of electronic money
terminal setting data, electronic money terminal operation
instruction, game machine setting data, game machine operation
instruction and display data so that different penalties are
applied when the authentication result shows authentication NG and
when the authentication result shows a timeout.
[0105] At this time, when the function setting means 114 has the
third storage means 106, it refers to the unit penalty setting
table of the third storage means 106 and can transmit at least one
of electronic money terminal setting data, electronic money
terminal operation instruction, game machine setting data, game
machine operation instruction and display data in at least one of
cases of authentication OK, authentication NG and timeout.
Depending on the electronic money terminal and the specification of
the game machine, it is also possible to suspend transmission of at
least one of electronic money terminal setting data, electronic
money terminal operation instruction, game machine setting data,
game machine operation instruction and display data. When the
dedicated unit 10 itself has a unit penalty setting table, even
when authentication cannot be performed appropriately due to, for
example, network trouble, it is possible to appropriately operate
the electronic money terminal 134, game machine 180 and display
device in such a case with reference to the unit penalty setting
table. Therefore, when authentication fails or a timeout occurs,
the dedicated unit 10 can refer to the unit penalty setting table
as a default (preset value). The unit penalty setting table stores
the set value of the electronic money terminal setting data, set
value of the game machine setting data and set value of the display
setting data in association with the authentication levels such as
authentication OK, authentication NG and timeout respectively so
that the function setting means 114 can transmit electronic money
terminal setting data, transmit game machine setting data and
transmit display setting data. The unit penalty setting table may
be adapted so that these set values are common to a plurality of
dedicated units 10A, 10B or the unit penalty setting table may also
be adapted so that the individual dedicated units 10A, 10B have
different set values. At least one of the electronic money terminal
setting data, game machine setting data and display data in the
unit penalty setting table can be described such that the
authentication level differs between authentication NG and a
timeout so that different penalties are applied when the
authentication result is authentication NG and when the
authentication result is a timeout.
[0106] The game machine authentication management device according
to another embodiment of the present invention may also be
configured to be able to communicate with an authentication
scheduling server through the first communication means 110 such as
Ethernet (registered trademark). In this case, instead of the unit
10, the authentication scheduling server has second storage means
104 for storing authentication schedule data or a program to define
a schedule according to which the game machine authentication
management device should request the authentication server 24 to
perform authentication and also has instruction transmission means
for transmitting an authentication request generating instruction
for causing the function setting means 114 to generate an
authentication request to the function setting means 114 through
the first communication means 110 according to the authentication
schedule data or the program. When the authentication scheduling
server is a processor base system, this instruction transmission
means is function means realized by executing a program using a
calculation apparatus and a main storage unit. The authentication
scheduling server can be realized through, for example, a server
computer identical to the penalty setting server 140 in FIG. 1.
[0107] In this embodiment, the function setting means 114 receives
an authentication request generating instruction from the
instruction transmission means in the authentication scheduling
server and thereby transmits an authentication request and ID data
to the authentication server 24 through the first communication
means 110. The processing thereafter is the same as that in the
case of the above described embodiment.
[0108] Here, when the authentication result data indicating that
authentication succeeded is received from the authentication server
during this standby time (case of authentication OK), the function
setting means 114 stores any one of the time data of the clock and
the authentication time data included in the authentication result
data in time storage means 108. On the other hand, when the
authentication result data indicating that authentication succeeded
is not received from the authentication server during the
predetermined standby time (case of authentication NG or a
timeout), the function setting means 114 transmits a signal for
causing the manual clock setting means 122 to stop the reception of
the manual time setting. When authentication fails, this prevents
the time from being manually reset.
[0109] According to the embodiment of the present invention, the
function setting means 114 can transmit the game machine setting
data which defines operable functions of the game machine 180 to
the game machine 180 through the second communication means 112.
The operable functions of the game machine 180 are, for example,
operations of the game machine as a whole and are a cash payment
function and cash summation function or the like when, for example,
there is a mechanism for cash payment in game machine 180
(mechanism of credit management or the like using cash coin). Other
examples of such operable functions are a service point payment
function and a service point summation function when the game
machine 180 is provided with a mechanism for payment with service
points acquired in a game played (mechanism of point reading or the
like of a point card) and functions of limiting purchase of game
items (gadgets) through a network or limiting a network match or
limiting access to a network database of the game server when the
game machine 180 is provided with a mechanism for the network game
using a game server (function of communication with the game server
or the like). This game machine setting data is transmitted to the
game machine 180 according to the authentication level data in at
least one of cases of authentication OK, authentication NG and
timeout.
[0110] The game machine authentication management device of the
present invention is provided with the display means whose display
contents can be changed and the display control means for
controlling display means. FIG. 2 shows this display device 118 and
display control means 116. The display device 118 is, for example,
a display device such as a VFD (fluorescence display tube) display
device and a liquid crystal display device, and can be used, for
example, to report to the player that payment with electronic money
is possible in addition to the applications of the present
invention. The display control means 116 is, for example, an
appropriate controller chip or the like. According to the present
invention, this display device 118 provides different expressions
in cases of authentication OK, authentication NG and timeout. For
example, in the case of authentication NG or a timeout, the display
device 118 displays, in addition to normal display, information
indicating authentication NG and timeout using predetermined
symbols or marks in such a way that only employees at the amusement
facility can understand them. Therefore, the function setting means
114 generates display setting data which defines display contents
according to the authentication level data, transmits the display
setting data to the display control means 116 and the display
control means 116 controls the display means 116 so that the
display device 118 displays the display contents according to the
display setting data in at least one of cases of authentication OK,
authentication NG and timeout.
[0111] This display setting data according to the embodiment of the
present invention can include display contents warning that the
reception of the manual time setting is stopped, display contents
warning that a penalty will be set immediately after the time is
changed and display contents reporting that cancellation of a
penalty setting requires authentication to be concluded
successfully.
[0112] The game machine authentication management device 10 or the
game machine 180 is further provided with an input device (not
shown) and after displaying any one of the above described display
contents, when the display contents function setting means 114
accepts the input of the manual time setting from this input
device, it can immediately transmit the electronic money terminal
setting data according to the authentication level data in cases of
either authentication NG or timeout to the electronic money
terminal through the second communication means 112 or the third
communication means.
[0113] FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the game machine 180
according to an embodiment of the present invention. The game
machine 180 here is a game machine with which the player can play a
game. The game machine 180 is provided with a communication
interface 184 which can communicate with the second communication
means 112 (or the third communication means (not shown)) of the
dedicated unit (game machine authentication management device) 10,
a control device 182 which controls the operation of the game
machine, an input controller 186 for input operation of the game
machine, a coin management section 188 which manages insertion or
ejection of medal or cash coins lent out in the store, a speaker
section 190 which plays sound effects or the like for the game and
a speaker control section 190a, a display section 192 to display
the game to the player and a display control section 192a, a
storage section 194 which stores a program and various kinds of
data to make a game progress, an RTC 196 and manual clock setting
means 196a and a time storage section 198 which stores the time at
which authentication succeeded last time. Some game machines 180
store game machine setting data in some storage device and set the
function and operation of the game machine 180 itself, while others
change the function and operation of the device for a game machine
operation instruction from outside.
[0114] FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a dedicated unit 10' used
in another embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, FIG. 5
shows the configuration of a game machine 180' used in this
embodiment. In this embodiment, unlike the configuration shown in
FIG. 2, first communication means 110' is not provided for the
dedicated unit 10', but provided for the game machine 180'. In this
case, network data through the first communication means 110' is
communicated with the dedicated unit 10' through a communication
interface 184 and a second communication means 112 and the
dedicated unit 10' can perform operation similar to that of the
dedicated unit 10.
[0115] Using FIG. 6, the configuration of a penalty setting server
140 used in the embodiment of the present invention will be
explained. The penalty setting server 140 of the embodiment of the
present invention is a server computer provided with nonvolatile
storage means 142 such as a hard disk drive, calculation means 146
such as a CPU which operates in cooperation with a main storage
unit 144 such as a RAM and communication means 148 such as an
Ethernet (registered trademark) interface. The communication means
148 is connected with a LAN at an amusement facility store and the
storage means 142 can communicate with the function setting means
114 of the dedicated unit 10. This penalty setting server 140
stores an integrated penalty setting table in the storage means
142. The function setting means 114 of the dedicated unit (game
machine authentication management device) 10 refers to the
integrated penalty setting table stored in the penalty setting
server 140 through the first communication means 110. As in the
case of the unit penalty setting table, the integrated penalty
setting table also stores the set value of electronic money
terminal setting data, the set value of game machine setting data,
the set value of display setting data in association with
authentication OK, authentication NG and timeout respectively so
that the function setting means 114 can transmit the electronic
money terminal setting data, transmit the game machine setting data
and transmit the display setting data. As in the case of the unit
penalty setting table, the integrated penalty setting table may
also be designed so that these set values are common to a plurality
of dedicated units 10A, 10B or may also be designed to differ
between the individual dedicated units 10A, 10B.
[0116] Furthermore, in the present invention, the game machine 180
can be connected with the computer network through the first
communication means 110 or the second communication means 112, the
authentication result data includes data indicating whether
authentication through the authentication server 24 has succeeded
or failed, the authentication result data can include
authentication time data from the authentication server 24 and
address data of the game server on an outside network to which the
game machine 180 is connected. In this way, it is possible to store
the time of authentication in the case of authentication OK, for
example, in the storage means 108 in FIG. 2 and use it for
subsequent processing. Furthermore, when authentication OK results
especially after authentication NG or a timeout, the game machine
180 can be connected to the game server so that the game can be
fully enjoyed.
[0117] A further embodiment of the present invention will be
explained using FIG. 7. In this embodiment, communication means 148
of a penalty setting server 140 can operate as outside
communication means capable of communicating with any one of
outside networks which are a computer network 500 such as the
Internet and another computer network 600. Examples of the other
computer network 600 may include a network which is not open to the
public such as a channel connected via a VPN (Virtual Private
Network) in the Internet and an ISDN channel separated from the
Internet or the like. A LAN in an amusement facility store site 100
can be provided with, for example, a router 162 which has a VPN
function or an ISDN terminal adapter (not shown) which has a router
function for connections with outside networks. To simply make a
distinction, the figure shows that different routers 160 and 162
are used for the computer networks 500 and 600, but it is also
possible to change the setting of an identical router or the like
and switch between the settings.
[0118] An integrated penalty setting table is made rewritable from
a maintenance computer 28 which is on an outside network such as a
data center site 200 through communication means 148. The
maintenance computer 28 is connected to the outside network through
an appropriate router 26. After some trouble, this maintenance
computer 28 is used to remotely rewrite the integrated penalty
setting table which is in the penalty setting server 140. When the
integrated penalty setting table is rewritten, each dedicated unit
10 can change the operation settings of the electronic money
terminal 134 and game machine 180 or the like, for example, in the
case of authentication NG or a timeout. When the cause of the
timeout is, for example, a malfunction of the network 500 and even
if the communication of the first communication means 110 is
interrupted, this allows the communication to be recovered from the
trouble remotely using the maintenance computer.
[0119] FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the processing of the game
machine authentication management device 10 according to an
embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the game
machine authentication management device 10 has second storage
means and stores authentication schedule data or a program therein.
The functions of the game machine are also set by the game machine
authentication management device 10. Furthermore, an integrated
penalty setting table is stored in the storage means 142 of the
penalty setting server 140 and a unit penalty setting table is
stored in the third storage means 106 of the game machine
authentication management device 10.
[0120] The function setting means 114 of the game machine
authentication management device 10 transmits an authentication
request and ID data to the authentication server 24 through the
first communication means 110 according to the schedule of at least
one of the authentication schedule data of the second storage means
104 and the program (step S102). Then, the function setting means
114 waits for a response including authentication result data from
the authentication server 24 within a predetermined standby time in
a reception-enabled state (step S104).
[0121] When the function setting means 114 receives the
authentication result data from the authentication server 24 during
the standby time (step S106) and moreover authentication is
concluded successfully (step S108), the authentication level is set
to authentication OK (step S110). Furthermore, when the
authentication result data received shows an authentication
failure, the authentication level is set to authentication NG (step
S112). In response to this, when the function setting means 114 has
not received the authentication result data from the authentication
server 24 during a standby time, the authentication level is set to
a timeout (step S114).
[0122] After acquiring the authentication level data in this way,
the function setting means 114 tries to invoke the integrated
penalty setting table from the storage means 142 of the penalty
setting server 140. When it is possible to invoke the desired
integrated penalty setting table (step S116), the function setting
means 114 refers to the integrated penalty setting table (step
S118). On the other hand, when it is not possible to invoke the
desired integrated penalty setting table, the function setting
means 114 refers to the unit penalty setting table (step S120).
These tables store what kind of electronic money terminal setting
data and game machine setting data should be transmitted in at
least one of cases of authentication OK, authentication NG and
timeout.
[0123] The function setting means 114 refers to the table,
transmits the electronic money terminal setting data according to
the authentication level data to the electronic money terminal 134
through the second communication means 112 or the third
communication means (step S122) and further transmits the game
machine setting data according to the authentication level data to
the game machine 180 through the second communication means 112
(step S124). These steps of transmitting electronic money terminal
setting data and game machine setting data according to the
authentication level data in the case of authentication OK are
substantially skipped, for example, in a configuration in which the
electronic money terminal setting data and game machine setting
data are not transmitted when authentication is OK.
[0124] FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the processing of the game
machine authentication management device 10 according to an
embodiment of the present invention. The function setting means 114
of the game machine authentication management device 10 transmits
an authentication request and ID data to the authentication server
24 through the first communication means 110 according to the
schedule of at least one of the authentication schedule data of the
second storage means 104 and the program (step S102). The function
setting means 114 waits for a response including the authentication
result data from the authentication server 24 within a
predetermined standby time in a reception-enabled state (step
S104).
[0125] When the function setting means 114 receives the
authentication result data from the authentication server 24 during
the standby time (step S106) and moreover when authentication has
succeeded (step S108), the authentication level is assumed to be
authentication OK (step S110). Furthermore, when the authentication
result data received shows that authentication failed, the
authentication level is assumed to be authentication NG (step
S112). On the other hand, when the function setting means 114 has
not received the authentication result data from the authentication
server 24 during the standby time, the authentication level is
assumed to be a timeout (step S114).
[0126] In the case of authentication OK, the function setting means
114 transmits a signal which allows the manual clock setting means
122 to receive the manual time setting (S130), stores the time data
obtained from the RTC 124 or RTC 196 or the time data included in
the authentication result data in the time storage means 108
(S132). Furthermore, in the case of authentication NG or a timeout,
the function setting means 114 transmits a signal to cause the
manual clock setting means 122 to stop the reception of the manual
time setting (S134) and further decides whether or not a
predetermined time has passed from the time stored in the time
storage means 108 at which authentication succeeded last time using
the time data obtained from the RTC 124 or RTC 196 or the time data
included in the authentication result data (S136). As a result of
this decision, when the predetermined time has not passed from the
time at which authentication succeeded last time, the system
inserts an appropriate wait time in the processing, that is,
temporarily stops the processing (S138) and then transmits an
authentication request and ID data again. Moreover, as a result of
this decision, when a predetermined time has passed from the time
at which authentication succeeded last time or in the case of
authentication OK, the system transmits electronic money terminal
setting data according to the authentication level data to the
electronic money terminal (S140). Step S140 of transmitting
electronic money terminal setting data according to the
authentication level data in the case of authentication OK is
substantially skipped, for example, in a configuration in which
electronic money terminal setting data and game machine setting
data are not transmitted in the case of authentication OK. Though
not shown, it is also possible to carry out a step similar to step
S140 instead of step S112 and provide a penalty different from
authentication NG in the case of a timeout.
[0127] Next, the format of setting data used for the setting of
operable functions of the electronic money terminal used in the
embodiment of the present invention, setting of operable functions
of the game machine and setting of display contents will be
explained. These setting data can be expressed as a flag string
storing set values of the respective settings in the bit string of
the communication data. For example, as enumerated in Table 1 and
Table 2, it is possible to express the setting data as 1-Flag1,
1-Flag2 . . . FlagZ using the grouped flags and extract such
setting data from the communication data. The setting data here is
used for the setting of the operable functions of the electronic
money terminal, setting of the operable functions of the game
machine and setting of display contents, and by transmitting the
setting data common to all these settings and distinguishing flags
used for the respective settings of the electronic money terminal,
the game machine and the dedicated unit, the setting data can be
used as data to set the respective operable functions or the
like.
[0128] Table 1 shows grouped flags used in the embodiment of the
present invention and the setting targets of the flags. The flags
in Table 1 are grouped into groups identified by numbers 1, 2, 3 as
1-Flag1, 1-Flag2, . . . . First letters of the respective flags
indicate group numbers. As for the groups used here, for example,
group 1 indicates a payment, group 2 indicates closing processing
of a payment (summation processing) and group 3 indicates a setting
change. Furthermore, as described in association with each flag,
the setting target of 1-Flag1 is an electronic money terminal and
that of 1-Flag2 is processing of service points of the game
machine. That is, Table 1 shows that 1-Flag1 is a flag which sets
payment processing at the electronic money terminal and 1-Flag2 is
a flag which sets the payment processing of service points of the
game machine. Hereinafter, each flag is expressed as ON when
asserted (enabled state) and OFF when not asserted (negated;
disabled state) and suppose an asserted (ON) flag prohibits the
function set by the flag.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Flag name Group Setting target 1-Flag 1 1
(payment) Electronic money terminal 1-Flag 2 Game machine (service
point) 1-Flag 3 Game machine (cash coin) 2-Flag 1 2 (payment
closing Electronic money terminal 2-Flag 2 processing) Game machine
(service point) 2-Flag 3 Game machine (cash coin) 3-Flag 1 3
(setting change) Electronic money terminal (unit price setting
change), game machine (unit price setting change of service point)
. . . . . . . . .
[0129] In addition to the above described flags, Table 1 describes
that 1-Flag3 is a flag which sets a payment of the game machine
using cash coins, that 2-Flag1 is a flag which sets payment closing
processing at the electronic money terminal, that 2-Flag2 is a flag
which sets payment closing processing of service points at the game
machine, that 2-Flag3 is a flag which sets payment closing
processing with cash coins at the game machine, that 3-Flag1 is a
flag which sets both a unit price setting change at the electronic
money terminal and a unit price setting change of service points at
the game machine. In addition to the flags specified here, it is
also possible to use flags pursuant to these flags.
[0130] Table 2 shows the settings of special flags which are not
grouped using descriptions similar to those in Table 1. FlagZ is a
flag which sets a warning display in the display device 118 of the
dedicated unit 10, displays a warning when it is ON and displays no
warning when it is OFF. In this way, flags which are not especially
grouped can also be included in the setting data.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Flag name Group Target Flag z -- Warning
display on display device in dedicated unit
[0131] Table 3 shows the settings (penalty settings) of the
respective flags specified by part of the integrated penalty
setting table and the unit penalty setting table. The combination
of the values of the respective flags shown in this Table 3 is
selected, for example, at the time of authentication NG and
timeout, and at the time of authentication OK, the values of the
setting table are referred to and the operations of the respective
apparatuses are switched. The expression "flag" is used in the
explanation, but the operation may also be such an operation that
simply changes the operation of the apparatus with reference to the
values of the setting table without necessarily having inner flags.
In the case of Table 3, penalties which prohibit these operations
are executed according to the operations of the target apparatuses
of Flag1 of group 1, Flag2, FlagZ of group 1 defined in Table 1 and
Table 2.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Flag Value Flag 1 of group 1 ON Flag 2 of
group 1 ON Flag z ON Other than above OFF
[0132] Table 4 shows the settings (penalty settings) of the
respective flags specified by part of the integrated penalty
setting table and the unit penalty setting table. The combination
of the values of the flags shown in this Table 4 is selected, for
example, at the time of authentication NG and at the time of a
timeout, and all flags are set to "OFF" at the time of
authentication OK. Here, in these penalty setting tables, it is
possible to specify whether all flags in each group should be set
to "ON" or "OFF" at the same time. For example, 1-Flag1, 1-Flag2
and 1-Flag3 which are all flags of group 1 can be set to "ON."
Furthermore, in these penalty setting tables, it is possible to
specify whether a plurality of flags having the same index at the
end across groups (e.g., 1-Flag1 and 2-Flag2) should be set to "ON"
or "OFF" at the same time. The combination of the values of flags
shown in Table 4 shows such penalty settings that setting all flags
of group 1 to "ON" stops service points at the electronic money
terminal and the game machine and a cash payment at the game
machine, that setting flags Flag1 and Flag2 of each group to "ON"
stops the payment closing processing at the electronic money
terminal and a payment with service points and the payment closing
processing at the game machine and that setting FlagZ to "ON"
displays a warning on the display device 118 of the dedicated unit
10. In this way, with the integrated penalty setting table and the
unit penalty setting table, it is possible not only to describe
settings that all flags are individually set to "ON" or "OFF" but
also make flexible settings using groups.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Flag Value All flags of group 1 ON Flag 1
and Flag 2 of all groups ON Flag z ON Other than above OFF
[0133] In the present invention, the penalty setting server 140 can
store authentication pause schedule data which defines at least one
of the time at which authentication by the authentication server 24
should be executed or the time at which authentication by the
authentication server 24 should be paused in the storage means 142.
At this time, the function setting means 114 of the dedicated unit
(game machine authentication management device) 10 can, instead of
directly sending an authentication request to the authentication
server 24, refer to authentication pause schedule data stored in
the penalty setting server 140 according to the schedule of at
least one of the authentication schedule data or a program stored
in the dedicated unit 10 or the second storage means 104 in the
authentication scheduling server. Furthermore, even in this case,
the operation can be such that the dedicated unit 10 directly sends
an authentication request to the authentication server 24,
accesses, in the case of NG or a timeout, the penalty setting
server 140, refers to authentication pause schedule data and
suspends the execution of the penalty in the case of an
authentication pause period. When it is the time at which
authentication by the authentication server 24 is possible, the
function setting means 114 transmits an authentication request and
ID data to the authentication server 24 through the first
communication means 110. In an embodiment in which an
authentication scheduling server is used, the authentication
scheduling server can also have this authentication pause schedule
data.
[0134] Table 5 is an example of the authentication pause schedule
data stored in the penalty setting server 140 and the
authentication scheduling server. Here, the time to start and the
time to stop a period during which authentication should be paused
are defined about two settings. Using such authentication pause
schedule data, it is possible to prevent authentication from being
carried out for the period specified here. That is, before sending
an authentication request to the authentication server 24 according
to the program and the authentication schedule data in the second
storage means in the dedicated unit 10 and the scheduling server,
the function setting means 114 of the dedicated unit refers to such
authentication pause schedule data of the penalty setting server,
and can thereby determine whether it is the time at which
authentication should be carried out by the authentication server
or the time at which authentication should not be carried out.
Here, the schedule according to which authentication should be
paused is specified, but the authentication pause schedule data may
also be such data that specifies the schedule according to which
authentication should be carried out.
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Setting No. Time to start authentication
pause Pause time Setting 1 9:00, Oct. 12, 2004 8 hours Setting 2
15:00, Oct. 19, 2004 8 hours
[0135] In the embodiment of the present invention, the penalty
setting server 140 can store the penalty disabling schedule data
that defines the time at which the penalty setting by the penalty
authentication server 24 should be enabled or the time at which it
should be disabled in the storage means 142.
[0136] At this time, the function setting means 114 of the
dedicated unit (game machine authentication management device) 10
refers to the penalty disabling schedule data before or after
transmitting an authentication request and ID data to the
authentication server 24. The function setting means 114 then does
not transmit at least one of electronic money terminal setting
data, game machine setting data and display setting data until the
time at which the penalty setting should be enabled. In the
embodiment in which the authentication scheduling server is used,
the authentication scheduling server can also have this
authentication pause schedule data.
[0137] Table 6 is an example of the penalty disabling schedule data
stored in the penalty setting server 140 and the authentication
scheduling server. Here, the time to start the period during which
the penalty setting should be disabled and the time during which
the penalty setting should be disabled are defined about two
settings. Using such penalty disabling schedule data, it is
possible to suspend the penalty setting even if authentication is
carried out for the period specified here. Here, the schedule
according to which the penalty setting should be disabled is
specified, but it is also possible to use data to specify a
schedule according to which the penalty setting should be
enabled.
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Setting No. Time to start disabling of
penalty setting Disabling time Setting 1 9:00, Oct. 12, 2004 8
hours Setting 2 15:00, Oct. 19, 2004 8 hours
[0138] Table 7 is an example of the integrated penalty setting
table and the unit penalty setting table. These penalty setting
tables specify values as to how flags should be set according to
conditions under which a penalty occurs. Since the conditions under
which a penalty occurs are decided based on the authentication
level data, such a penalty setting table defines values of various
setting data to be transmitted from the function setting means 114
to the authentication level data.
TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Penalty condition Flag Value Authentication
All flags of group 1 ON NG Flag 1 and Flag 2 of all groups ON Flag
z ON Other than above OFF Timeout All flags of group 2 ON Flag 1
and Flag 2 of all groups ON Flag z ON Other than above OFF
[0139] In Table 7, in the case of authentication NG, all flags of
group 1 are set to ON, and therefore a relatively heavy penalty is
set such that payment by the electronic money terminal and payment
with cash and service points by the game machine are stopped, but
in case of a timeout, 1-Flag3 of the flags of group 1 is set to
OFF, and therefore a relatively light penalty is set such that
payment with cash coins by the game machine is permitted.
[0140] The integrated penalty setting table used in the present
invention can include a first setting table and a second setting
table. At this time, the function setting means 114 can refer to
the first setting table in a predetermined penalty suspension
period after receiving an authentication result or obtaining the
authentication level data and refer to the second setting table
after the penalty suspension period elapses. This first setting
table and second setting table are configured such that their set
values differ from each other for at least one of values of the
authentication levels. Therefore, it is possible to cause the
electronic money terminal 134, game machine 180 and display device
or the like to operate by imposing light function restrictions for
the penalty suspension period and impose greater function
restrictions when the penalty suspension period is past. When the
dedicated unit 10 has the third storage means 106, a multi-stage
penalty setting using such a penalty suspension period can also be
performed when the unit penalty setting table has a first setting
table and a second setting table.
[0141] Table 8 is an example of the integrated penalty setting
table and the unit penalty setting table having such a first
setting table and a second setting table. A relatively light
penalty is set immediately after authentication NG and a relatively
heavy penalty is set when a predetermined time (here, 24 hours) has
elapsed after authentication NG without ever resulting in
authentication OK. Here, a setting related to authentication NG is
used, but similar processing can also be used, for example, in the
case of a timeout.
TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 8 Penalty condition Setting time Flag value
Immediately after -- All flags of group 2 ON authentication NG Flag
1 and Flag 2 of ON all groups Flag z ON Other than above OFF Lapse
of set time 24 hours All flags of group 1 ON after authentication
Flag 1 and flag 2 of ON all groups NG Flag z ON Other than above
OFF
[0142] Table 9 and Table 10 show examples of flags when using a
network game using a game server and examples of the integrated
penalty setting table and the unit penalty setting table for
setting penalties. Using such flags and penalty setting tables, it
is also possible to set penalties for the operation functions of
the game machine of the network game using the game server.
TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 9 Management flag Contents Flag 1 Payment with
electronic money Flag 2 Payment with service points Flag 3 Payment
with cash coin . . . . . . Flag n Purchase of electronic item
through network in network game Flag (n + 1) Network match in
network game Flag (n + 2) Network database access in network game .
. . . . . Flag z Warning display on screen of dedicated unit
TABLE-US-00010 TABLE 10 Penalty set value Flag 1, 2, n, . . . (n +
1), (n + 2) . . . : ON Flag z: ON Flag other than above: OFF
[0143] The embodiments of the present invention have been described
so far, but the present invention is not limited to the above
described embodiments and various modifications, changes and
combinations are possible based on the technical thought of the
present invention.
[0144] For example, the embodiments have explained so far the case
where the present invention is implemented as the game machine
authentication management device, but the present invention can
also be implemented as a game device. In this case, the game device
is provided with a game machine section corresponding to the game
machine 180 and a game machine authentication management section
corresponding to the dedicated unit (game machine authentication
management device) 10. In this case, the game machine
authentication management section can be further provided with an
electronic money terminal section. This electronic money terminal
section may be similar to the electronic money terminal 134 of the
game machine authentication management device. Furthermore, in this
case, ID data and data which becomes part thereof and which
specifies the game machine (value indicating a game machine or the
value indicating a game program) may be stored in some storage
section. For example, the data may be stored as part of the game
program. The data may also be stored in other places. For example,
when the data is specified as a MAC address of a communication
interface, the data can be stored in the communication interface.
Furthermore, the data may also be stored in an ID of the CPU used
for a game or boot ROM. Of course, the location of this storage
information is not limited and it can be stored in a memory on the
game housing side instead of inside the board of the electronic
circuit. This allows the game device to be implemented as a game
device having components such as a game machine authentication
management section, an electronic money terminal section and a game
machine section in addition to the manual clock setting means,
clock and time storage means. The operations of the game machine
authentication management section, electronic money terminal
section and game machine section may be similar to the operations
of the game machine authentication management device, electronic
money terminal and game machine explained in the above described
embodiments. Furthermore, in this case, the electronic money
terminal section uses not electronic money terminal setting data
but payment setting data which defines the setting of a payment
with electronic money. Furthermore, the processing in the operation
method of the above described dedicated unit 10 can be likewise
realized by a game device provided with a game machine
authentication management section, game machine section and
electronic money terminal section. In addition, each table such as
the penalty setting table and each flag can also be realized by a
game device provided with a game machine authentication management
section, game machine section and electronic money terminal
section.
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