AU643612B2

AU643612B2 - Aggregation apparatus for sale data of coin operated machines

Info

Publication number: AU643612B2
Application number: AU15197/92A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Yoneo Hayashi; Syun Ito
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-04-30
Filing date: 1992-04-28
Publication date: 1993-11-18
Anticipated expiration: 2012-04-28
Also published as: GB9209150D0; GB2255666A; CA2067591A1; GB2255666B; AU1519792A

Description

64i3612

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: AGGREGATION APPARATUS FOR SALE DATA OF COINSk~STG

MACHINES.

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:o Aggregation Apparatus for Sale Data of Coin Operated Machines Background of the Invention Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an aggregation apparatus for sale data of a plurality of coin operated machines and more particularly to an aggregation apparatus or system for sale data of coin game machines.

Prior Art "Coin operated machines such as game machines for oo selling services or goods by using coins, are popularised widely and a number of game machines (the same type or different kinds of game machines) are arranged in amusement placee for players.

These game machines are constructed such that a game may start by depositing a coin or coins in a coin receptacle. The proper body of the game machine provides a counter which is associated with the coin depositing o machine so that the counter may indicate the contents of e00 count by means of a display or an indicator.

eeoc The coins deposited in the coin depositing machine in such a manner, are collected periodically, and at the time it is recognised whether or not the indication of the display is equal to the number of the deposited coins. Namely, if the indication of the display shows the number of the coins which is greater than the deposited coins, it means that the coins would be stolen between the last count and the count of this time.

Such a count operation is carried out normally with manual operations, but the count operation with manual operations necessitates a lot of time and increases a probability of occurring an error.

Then, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58- 47478 has proposed an apparatus for aggregating sale data, which apparatus is assembled in each of game machines, for carrying out an aggregation operation for thQ game machines. Further, Japanese Utility Model Publication No.

58-47480 has proposed an apparatus for aggregating sale data in such a manner that a coin detecting section and a data forming section are assembled in the proper of a game machine and that a movable data reading section is connected to the data forming section.

The construction disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-47478 provides the aggregation apparatus with each of the game machines and therefore the aggregated data cannot be obtained individually even if a S,'plurality of game machines are installed.

Accordingly, it is necessary to manually totalise the data which are obtained from each of the game machines and therefore such a construction is not sufficient in 20 considering necessity of a lot of time for calculation and S: lack of accuracy.

The construction of Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-47480 has an advantage that the movable data reading section may read the data and edit same for print-out. However, it is necessary to aggregate the data of the next game machine after finishing an aggregation of the data of a game machine in such a manner that the data reading section has to change its connection to the data forming section assembled in each of the game machines.

Therefore, such a construction necessitates a lot of time in aggregation.

3 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is proposed in view of the problems of the above mentioned prior art and has an object to provide an aggregation apparatus or system for sale data of coin operated machines which may accurately aggregate coins of a coin operated machine for a plurality of game machines or vending machines quickly and with little labour.

Therefore in accordance with a first broad aspect of the invention there is provided a system for monitoring sale data of coin operated machines comprising a plurality of coin operated machines connected in series via a communication circuit to a host machine at one end of the t series, each coin operated machine including terminal equipment, said terminal equipment having end setting means for setting a flag the state of t which represents whether or not the corresponding coin operated machine to which it is positioned is at the other said end of the series, and to cause that machine to act through the communication circuit to indicate said flag state, a counter associated with a coin receptacle, and control means for communication with the host machine; wherein the host machine is adapted to receive communication signals via said communication circuit to identify particular coin operated machines having regard to the indicated flag states, and to receive the value of each counter.

In accordance with a second broad aspect of the invention there is provided a system for monitoring sale data of coin operated machines comprising a plurality of coin operated machines connected in series via a communication circuit to a host machine at one end of the series, each coin operated machine including terminal equipment, said terminal equipment having a counter associated with a coin receptacle, and control means for communication with the host machine; wherein the host machine is adapted to effect the resetting of each said counter or to instruct each said control means to reset its corresponding said counter.

Each of the terminal equipments may recognise whether or not itself is the end terminal equipment, by using a flag which is set in the end setting means.

In a preferred embodiment which is described in detail below, when the host machine outputs a circuit check instruction, the control menns of the first terminal equipment in serial connection receives the instruction and then transfers same to the control means of the next terminal equipment and so on. The contrcl means at the end of the chain outputs an acknowledgment signal to the control means of the to terminal which it is connected, and then the reply is transferred back along the chain to the host machine via each control means in order. As the result, the host machine is informed that the circuit is functioning correctly. When the circuit is not functioning a correctly, the above mentioned reply cannot return within a predetermined period and therefore the terminal equipment which does not receive a timely reply transmits to the host machine back through the chain a reply indicating the identity of the terminal which has not responded. As the result, it is possible to check where the trouble occurs.

The preferred operation of interrogation of each game machine for its data is as follows.

The host machine instructs each control means in order to output its data by sending appropriate commands down the chain. A control means on receiving the instruction intended for it transfers the aggregated data from its aggregation value memory means back to the host machine along the chain. If the control means which is polled by the host machine is the end one, the end flag "1" is also returned simultaneously and the host is thereby informed that the transfer is complete. After completion of the transfer, the host machine instructs each terminal down the chain a "reset" command in a similar manner, whereby each counter is reset.

Further preferably, a memory such as a RAM may be used as aggregation value meirory means.

As mentioned above, the present invention removes the possibility of errors in reading the aggregated data

S.

since it is possible to automatically collect all the S 15 counter values for a plurality of game machines and it is S. thereby possible to monitor the sale data with much greater "frequency and without manual labour.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed 20 description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the •drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings show the preferred embodiment of a system for automatically recording aggregate sale information from a plurality of coin operated machines according to the present invention in which:- Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an entire construction of the system, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a construction of a terminal, Fig. 3 is a main flow chart for the host machine logic, Fig. 4 is a flow chart of the host machine logic for checking a circuit, Fig. 5 is a flow chart of the logic for transfer of sale data as it appears in the host machine, Fig. 6 is a flow chart of the logic for reset cycle of the host machine, Fig. 7 is a main flow chart of the terminal equipment logic, Fig. 8 is a flow chart of the logic for checking the circuit by the terminal equipment, Fig. 9 is a flow chart of the logic for the transfer of sale data from the terminal as it appears in the terminal, and 5 Fig. 10 is a flow chart of the logic in the S 15 terminal for reset of the terminal equipment.

*9 Fig. 11 is a flow chart of aggregation while playing a game.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 20 Fig. 1 shows a conceptional view showing a basic construction of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing each of terminal equipments 2a 2n e (generically referred to as which is shown in Fig. 1.

•Figs. 3 through 10 are flow charts showing steps of the present invention.

A terminal equipment 2k is provided in each game machine 10k respectively and the terminal equipments 2k are connected to one another in serial. A host machine 1 is connected at one end of a communication circuit L.

Referring now to Fig. 2, terminal equipment 2k is provided with a CPU 20 as control means and this is operated with a program memorised in a ROM 21.

The data from a counter of a coin receptacle, which is also provided with the game machine 10, is transmitted to the CPU 20 via a terminal P 10 of an interface 21 and the aggregated data are read at any time by a RAM 24 as aggregation memory means (F30 in Fig, 7), and the result is indicated by an LED display 25. Further, a communication circuit L of the terminal equipment to a higher-ranked neighbouring game machine (ie. closer to the host machine), is connected to a terminal P 2 0 of a communication I/O 22.

The communication circuit L to a game machine of lower rank (ie. further from the host machine) is connected to another terminal P 2 of the communication I/O 22 and the communication I/O 22 is, of course, connected to the CPU 15 The display of the host machine 1 is capable of displaying a menu and an operator may designate one item from the menu (See Fl and F2 of Fig. 3).

b Prior to an aggregation operation, the operator 20 first gives a circuit-check instruction to the host machine S. in order to check whether the communication circuit L is normal or not (See Fl--F2->F3) in Fig. 3 and F60 in Fig.

When this instruction is given, the host machine 1 first outputs a circuit-check instruction to the first terminal equipment 2a (See F14 in Fig. By means of an operating switch 26, a flag is set in end setting means located in each terminal equipments 2k is given where the terminal is not positioned at end, and is given where it is positioned at end) in order to specify whether or not its associated game machine is positioned at the end of the series connection.

When the first terminal 2a receives the circuitcheck instruction from the host machine 1, the terminal equipment 2a reads the flag to confirm that its game machine is not positioned at end, and the circuit-check instruction is transferred to the second terminal equipment 2b and then the circuit-check instruction is transferred to the terminal equipment 2k of lower rank in order (See F111->F112 in Fig. 8).

Since the flag is set in the end setting means of the lowermost or end terminal equipment 2n in order to show that its terminal equipment is the end one, the end terminal equipment 2n transfers to the higherranked terminal equipment 2(n-1) a reply that its game machine has received the circuit-check instruction (See F111-F117).

The confirmation of receiving the circuit-check S..instruction is transferred to the host machine 1 via each 15 higher-ranked terminal equipment 2k in turn (F113-4F116).

With this transfer, the host machine 1 indicates a "normal ending" which confirms that the circuit is in normal state (See Fig. 4, F15->F18--F19).

g ~Where a problem occurs in the circuit, there is 20 no reply of receiving confirmation from the terminal equipment 2n which is positioned at end. Therefore, when the state of having no confirmation persists for a predetermined time, the terminal equipment 2k preceding the one which is not responding, transfers an instruction of "time-out" to the host machine 1 along the chain of higherranked terminals (F115). With this transfer, the host machine 1 may determine problem point of the circuit and indicate the "time-out" (Fl5->F16->F17).

Next, when the operator outputs an instruction of aggregation, the host machine 1 instructs the first terminal equipment 2a to transfer its aggregation data (See F4 of Fig. 3, F70 of Fig. 7 and F25-4F26 of Fig. The first terminal equipment 2a upon receiving the requirement, judges whether or not the requirement is directed to itself and then if the requirement is directed to itself, the aggregated data memorised the aggregation value memory means is transmitted to the host machine 1 (See F121-F130 of Fig. At the time, if its terminal equipment is not the end terminal equipment 2n, an end flag is transmitted simultaneously (See F128).

Thus, the aggregated data transferred to the host machine 1 are indicated by means of a display of the host machine 1 and also input in a memory such as a floppy disc.

The host machine 1, which has recognised the end flag outputs an instruction of requirement for transferring the aggregated data, to the next terminal equipment (the second terminal equipment 2b) (See Fig. 5; F27->F30-F32->F33-4 F34->F36->F26). Although this requirement of transfer is, of course, received initially by the first terminal equipment 2a, the first terminal equipment transmits the requirement to the lower positioned terminal equipment since the requirement is not one which io directed to 20 itself (See F121->F122 of Fig. 9).

The lower positioned terminal equipment (the second terminal equipment 2b) transfers the aggregated data *e as the first terminal equipment has done, and also transfers the end flag (See F121->F127--Fi28->Fl30).

The upper positioned terminal equipment (the first terminal equipment) receiving the transfer passes the received data to the next higher-ranked terminal equipment 2k (or the host machine 1) (F123-4F126).

If the circuit has a problem, the aggregated data cannot be retu:ned from the lower-ranked terminal equipment and such a situation persists for a predetermined time, the higher-ranked terminal equipment 2k returns an instruction of the "time-out" to the host machine 1 along the chain.

The first terminal equipment 2a then returns the instruction directly to the host machine 1 (F124-4F125).

The host machine 1 receiving the instruction of the "timeout", indicates a message of time-out by means of a display (F31 of Fig. According to these steps, the aggregated data are transferred to the host machine 1 in order.

When the requirement for transferring the aggregated data is output toward the end terminal equipment 2n, the above mentioned end flag is set to be and then the host machine 1 does not output further requirements.

In the above operation, where the circuit has a problem, a data transfer cannot be carried out from the terminal equipment 2k which is positioned lower than the problem position. Therefore, when the operation is finished, the host machine 1 is connected again to the terminal equipment 2k which is positioned lower than its troubling point and then the above mentioned operation is repeated.

The aggregated data obtained in the above S 20 mentioned manner are compiled or printed out from the host machine by means of another program.

Further, when the operatcr outputs a reset instruction (See FS of Fig. 3 and F80 of Fig. the host machine 1 first instructs the first terminal equipment 2a to reset its counter to zero (See F45 of Fig. The first terminal equipment receiving this instruction judges whether or not it is directed to itself and then if the instruction is directed to itself, the first terminal equipment resets the counter to be zero (See F137 of Fig.

10). Thereafter, the return data indicating the reset of the counter are transmitted to the host machine (F138->F139--F141). If the terminal equipment is not the end terminal equipment, the end flag is transmitted simultaneously (F139).

Thus, the reset data transferred to the host machine is indicated by the display of the host machine 1.

The host machine 1, which has recognised the end flag resets the counter of the next terminal equipment 2k (the second terminal equipment 2b) to zero (See Fig. 6; F46-->F49--F51--F52F2-54). The reset instruction is, of course, received by the first terminal 2a, but the instruction is transmitted to the lower-ranked terminal equipment since the instruction is not the requirement for itself (See F131->F132 of Fig. The lawer ranked terminal equipment 2k (the second terminal equipment 2b) resets the counter as the co first terminal equipment has done, and then transfers the response data of reset of the counter to the next higherranked terminal equipment 2k and also transfers the end flag (F131->F137~F139-F141). Then, that terminal equipment (the first terminal equipment 2a) returns the received reset data to the next higher-ranked terminal equipment 2k (ie. the host machine 1) (F133-9F136).

20 If the circuit has a problem, the reset data *e cannot be returned from the lower-ranked terminal equipment and if such a situation persists for a predetermined time, the next higher-ranked terminal equipment returns an instruction of "time-out" to the host machine 1 along the chain. The first terminal equipment 2a returns the instruction directly to the host machine 1 (F134->Fl35).

The host machine 1 receiving the instruction of the "timeout", indicates a communication-error message by means of a display (F50 of Fig. According to these steps, it is confirmed whether the reset process is in order.

When the reset instruction is output to the end terminal equipment 2n, the end flag is set to be and the host machine 1 does no" output further instructions.

In the above operation, where the circuit has a problem reset cannot be carried out from the terminal equipment 2k which is positioned lower than the problem point. Therefore, when the operation is finished, the host machine 1 is connected again to the terminal equipment 2k which is positioned lower than the problem point and then the above mentioned operation is repeated.

In the checking operation of the circuit, aggregation and reset, if communication cannot be carried out or stopped due to noises or the like in the way of communication, a communication-error message could be indicated by the host machine.

With reference to Fig. 2, the present invention provides a relay switch 30 between the terminals P 20 and

P

21 When the terminal equipment 2k is turned on, the relay switch 30 is OFF and the terminal equipment 2k (such as the terminal equipment 2b) is connected to the adjacent terminal equipments 20k in serial, which adjacent terminal equipments 20k will be the preceding terminal equipments 20 20a and 20c with respect to the terminal equipment 2b. On the other hand, when the terminal equipment 2k is turned *too*, off, the relay switch 30 is ON and the terminal equipment 2k (such as the terminal equipment 2b) is bypassed in the chain. As the result, it is possible to carry out an aggregation by omitting tha game machine having the specified terminal equipment 2k in the event that the specified terminal equipment 2k is turned off due to for instance troubles.

In addition, a saving switch 40 is connected to the terminal whereby it is possible to carry out an aggregation as shown in Fig. 11, even if the player is playing its game.

Namely, when the saving switch 40 is turned on, the contents a of the counter of a coin receptacle is 13 registered in a saving register (for example a specific area of the above mentioned RAM 24), which is provided independently (F151: Y-4F152). Thereafter, a circuit check as shown in Fig. 8 (F153), an aggregation as shown in Fig.

9 (F154), and a reset as shown in Fig. 10 (F155) is carried out. Where the reset has taken place as shown in Fig. the contents a of the saving register is subtracted from thq present contents 3 of the counter of the coin receptacle (F156) and the value of the difference between P a, is then set in the counter of the coin receptacle (F157) (Regarding the present contents 3, there is such a case that a count further goes on during the operation of the above mentioned aggregation).

S

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Claims

1. A system for monitoring sale data of coin operated machines comprising a plurality of coin operated machines connected in series via a communication circuit to a host machine at one end of the series, each coin operated machine including terminal equipment, said terminal equipment having end setting means for setting a flag the state ot which represents whether or not the corresponding coin operated machine to which it is positioned is at the other said end of the series, and to cause that machine to act through the communication circuit to indicate said flag state, 15 a counter associated with a coin receptacle, and sea control means for communication with the host machine; wherein the host machine is adapted to receive :communication signals via said communication circuit to 20 identify particular coin operated machines having regard to the indicated flag states, and to receive the value of each S: counter. S:

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the host machine is further adapted to check the state of connection of the communication circuit on the basis of the indicated flag states.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the host machine is further adapted to effect the resetting of each said counter or to instruct each said control means to reset its corresponding said counter.

4. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein in use the host machine performs said step of checking the state of connection before said step of receiving the value of each counter.

A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein in use the host machined performs said step of effecting the resetting after said step of receiving the value of each counter.

6. A system for monitoring sale data of coin operated machines comprising a plurality of coin operated machines connected in series via a communication circuit to S" a host machine at one end of the series, 3ach coin operated 5* machine including terminal equipment, said terminal 15 equipment having a counter associated with a coin receptacle, and control means for communication with the host machine; 0 wherein the host machine is adapted to effect the resetting of each said counter or to instruct each said control means to reset its corresponding said counter.

7. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising aggregation value memory means associated with each counter for memorising the value of the counter.

8. A system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS 9TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 1993 YONEO HAYASHI By his Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK CO Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A system for maintaining sale data of coin operated machines comprising a plurality of coin operated machines, each including a terminal equipment having end setting means, aggregation value memory means for a counter of a coin receptacle, control means for controlling the end setting means and the aggregation value memory means. The host machine checks a state of connection of the communication circuit, counts the contents of the memory of each of the aggregation value memory means and resets the counter of each of the coin depositing machines. 0*

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