CURRENCY VALUE CHANGING APPARATUS ENABLING PLAYER TO PLAY GAME USING VARIOUS CURRENCIES, GAMING SYSTEM WHERE PLAYER CAN PLAY GAME USING VARIOUS CURRENCIES, INDIVIDUAL TRACKING APPARATUS, AND INDIVIDUAL TRACKING SYSTEM

• US 20100056260A1
• Filed: 07/29/2009
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Aruze Corp. (Universal Entertainment Corporation)
• Inventors: FUJIMOTO, Jun
• Granted Patent: US 9,547,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/381 Currency conversion
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots

Abstract

The currency-value converter according to the present invention transmits amount-of-converted-currency data indicating the amount of basic currency identified based on the type of this currency, the amount of the currency and the exchange rate, to a controller installed in a gaming machine, when the type of currency accepted through a currency validator is not the basic currency. The exchange rate is a rate in which a correspondence relationship between an amount of the basic currency and an amount of another type of currency other than the basic currency is set for each type of currency other than the basic currency. Then, a game is played at the gaming machine based on the transmitted amount-of-converted currency.

Claims

1. A currency-value converter, which is connected to a controller installed in a gaming machine and a currency validator capable of accepting various currencies and identifying a type and an amount of accepted currency through respective communication lines,

said currency-value converter comprising

a memory capable of storing exchange rate data indicating an exchange rate in which a correspondence relationship between an amount of basic currency and an amount of another type of currency other than said basic currency is set for each type of currency other than said basic currency, and

a processor programmed to execute the processing of-:

(A) receiving type-of-currency data indicating a type of currency identified by said currency validator and amount-of-currency data indicating an amount of this currency, from said currency validator through said communication line; and

(B) transmitting, when the type of currency indicated by the type-of-currency data received in said processing (A) is not said basic currency, amount-of-converted-currency data indicating an amount of basic currency that is specified based on the type of this currency, the amount of currency indicated by the amount-of-currency data received in said processing (A) and the exchange rate data stored in said memory, to said controller through said communication line.

2. The currency-value converter according to claim 1,

wherein

said currency-value converter is connected to an exchange server repeatedly acquiring exchange information indicating a correspondence relationship between an amount of basic currency and an amount of another type of currency other than said basic currency at a predetermined timing, through a communication line, and

said processor is further programmed to execute the processing of:

(C) receiving information specified based on the exchange information from said exchange server through the communication line, each time said exchange server acquires the exchange information; and

(D) updating the exchange rate data stored in said memory based on the information received in said processing (C).

3. A gaming system comprising the currency-value converter according to claim 1,

wherein

said gaming system includes a gaming machine which includes said currency validator, and said controller, and

said controller executes the processing of:

(a) receiving the amount-of-converted-currency data transmitted in said processing (B);

(b) cumulatively counting, as a cumulative value, all or part of an amount of basic currency corresponding to a predetermined fee, when the type of currency indicated by the type-of-currency data received by said processor in said processing (A) is not said basic currency;

(c) executing a game based on a BET value, said BET value being an amount of currency obtained by subtracting an amount of basic currency corresponding to said predetermined fee from an amount of basic currency equivalent to the amount of currency indicated by the amount-of-currency data received by said processor in said processing (A); and

(d) paying out game media to said gaming machine, based on said cumulative value, when a predetermined progressive-jackpot payout condition has been established.

4. The gaming system according to claim 3,

wherein

said processing (b) is the processing of

cumulatively counting as the cumulative value a fractional amount obtained by dividing an amount of basic currency corresponding to a predetermined ratio by a predetermined unit-amount of basic currency, provided that an amount of basic currency corresponding to the predetermined ratio, out of the amount of basic currency equivalent to the amount of currency indicated by the amount-of-currency data received by said processor in said processing (A), does not become a natural-number multiple of said predetermined unit-amount of basic currency.

5. A gaming system comprising the currency-value converter according to claim 1,

wherein

said gaming system includes:

a plurality of gaming machines, each of which includes said currency validator, and said controller; and

a progressive-jackpot server including a control portion,

said currency-value converter is connected to said control portion through a communication line,

said controller executes the processing of;

(a) receiving the amount-of-converted-currency data transmitted in said processing (B); and

(b) executing a game based on a BET value, said BET value being an amount of basic currency obtained by subtracting an amount of basic currency corresponding to a predetermined fee from an amount of basic currency equivalent to the amount of currency indicated by the amount-of-currency data received by said processor in said processing (A), and

said control portion executes the processing of;

(I) cumulatively counting as a cumulative value the amount of basic currency corresponding to the predetermined fee, when the type of currency indicated by the type-of-currency data received by said processor in said processing (A) is not said basic currency; and

(II) paying out game media to any of the gaming machines out of said plurality of gaming machines, based on said cumulative value, when a predetermined progressive-jackpot payout condition has been established.

6. The gaming system according to claim 5,

wherein

said processing (II) is the processing of

paying out game media, based on said cumulative value, to a gaming machine having the currency validator through which the type of currency other than said basic currency has been accepted, out of said plurality of gaming machines, when the predetermined progressive-jackpot payout condition has been established.

7. An individual tracking system comprising:

a server;

an entrance card reader set at an entrance gate of a facility; and

a camera disposed so as to be able to capture an image of the inside said facility,

said server comprising;

a memory in which staff identification data to identify a staff member and face image data showing a face image of the staff member are stored in association with each other;

an output device; and

a processor,

said processor programmed to execute processing of;

(A) storing the staff identification data read out by said entrance card reader;

(B) continuously storing image data showing an image captured by said camera;

(C) comparing each of the image data stored in said processing (B) with each of the face image data associated with the staff identification data stored in said processing (A) so as to determine whether or not a specific condition is satisfied; and

(D) outputting, from said output device, the face image data when said specific condition is determined not to have been satisfied and/or the staff identification data associated with the face image data when said specific condition is determined not to have been satisfied.

8. The individual tracking system according to claim 7,

wherein

said processor is further programmed to execute the processing of:

(E) comparing the image data determined not to satisfy said specific condition in said processing (C) with each of the face image data stored in said memory so as to determine whether or not said specific condition is satisfied; and

(F) storing, or deleting, the image data determined not to satisfy said specific condition in said processing (E) as guest image data in said memory, and

said processing (D) is the processing of

outputting, from said output device, the face image data when said specific condition is determined to have been satisfied in said processing (E) and/or the staff identification data associated with the face image data when said specific condition is determined to have been satisfied in said processing (E).

9. An individual tracking apparatus comprising:

a camera disposed so as to be able to capture an image of a face of a player playing games at a gaming machine;

a memory; and

a controller,

said controller programmed to execute the processing of;

(A) continuously storing image data showing an image captured by said camera in said memory;

(B) setting the image data not satisfying a predetermined condition among said image data stored in said memory to a deletable state; and

(C) deleting the image data set to the deletable state among the image data stored in said memory, when a storable domain of said memory becomes less than a predetermined amount.

10. The individual tracking apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein

the individual tracking apparatus further comprises a card reader,

said controller is further programmed to execute the processing of:

(D) receiving from said card reader a detection signal indicating that identification data for distinguishing a card from other cards has been read; and

(E) receiving from said card reader a non-detection signal indicating that said identification data is no more detected, and

said processing (B) is the processing of

setting the image data stored in said memory in a period from receipt of said detection signal to receipt of said non-detection signal to a deletable state.

11. The individual tracking apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein

the individual tracking apparatus further comprises a connecting portion enabling communication with a gaming machine,

said controller is further programmed to execute the processing of

(F) receiving from said gaming machine via said connection portion, an abnormality detection signal indicating detection of abnormality, and

said processing (B) is the processing of

setting the image data to a deletable state when a predetermined period of time or more elapses without receiving said abnormality detection signal after storing of the image data in said memory.

12. An individual tracking system comprising:

a plurality of individual tracking apparatuses disposed at a facility;

a server provided with a processor; and

a plurality of card readers disposed at said facility,

each of said individual tracking apparatuses comprising a connecting portion enabling communication with a gaming machine, a camera disposed so as to be able to capture an image of a face of a staff member performing an operation on said gaming machine, a memory, and a controller,

wherein

said controller is programmed to execute the processing of;

(A) receiving from said gaming machine via said connection portion, an abnormality detection signal indicating detection of abnormality; and

(B) transmitting an abnormal signal to said server upon receipt of said abnormality detection signal, said processor is programmed to execute processing of;

(a) obtaining identification data having been read by any of said card readers from one or more cards respectively owned by one or more staff members in said facility;

(b) specifying the card reader that is closest to the individual tracking apparatus having transmitted said abnormal signal;

(c) specifying identification data obtained by the card reader specified in said processing (b);

, and

(d) starting communication with a terminal for a staff member corresponding to the said identification data specified in said processing (c), and

said controller is further programmed to execute the processing of;

(C) continuously storing image data showing the image captured by said camera in said memory at least after receiving said abnormality detection signal;

(D) measuring a time period from receipt of said abnormality detection signal to receipt of a recovery-completion signal indicating completion of recovery of said gaming machine from said gaming machine; and

(E) transmitting to said server the image data stored in said memory during a time period from receipt of said abnormality detection signal to receipt of said recovery-completion signal and period data indicating the time period measured in said processing (D).