Peripheral device of gaming machine, server, and game system

Abstract

A peripheral device of a gaming machine includes an imaging unit and a processor. The imaging unit images a human face in response to one imaging command, and generates a plurality of different imaging signals. The processor operates to select one imaging signal from the plurality of imaging signals generated by the imaging unit in response to one imaging command.

1 . A peripheral device of a gaming machine, comprising: 
 an imaging unit that images a human face in response to one imaging command, and generates a plurality of different imaging signals; and    a processor that operates to select one imaging signal from the plurality of imaging signals generated by the imaging unit in response to one imaging command.    
   
   
       2 . The peripheral device according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the processor further operates to announce to a human that he/she should move his/her face while fixing his/her eyes on a predetermined point, before the imaging unit performs an imaging,    and wherein, in response to one imaging command, the imaging unit performs an imaging several times within a predetermined period of time, to thereby generate the plurality of imaging signals.    
   
   
       3 . The peripheral device according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor operates to select such an imaging signal that a width of a face pictured in an image based on the imaging signal is maximum.  
   
   
       4 . The peripheral device according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 in response to one imaging command, the imaging unit images a human face from front and right sides, to thereby generate a plurality of pairs of imaging signals; and    the processor operates to select one of the plurality of pairs of imaging signals.    
   
   
       5 . The peripheral device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a memory that stores therein a reference data item relating to at least one of a hue, a brightness, and a chroma of a predetermined area of an image that is based on the imaging signal generated by the imaging unit, 
 wherein the processor further operates to correct an imaging signal thus selected, based on a data item relating to at least one of a hue, a brightness, and a chroma of an area, corresponding to the predetermined area, of an image that is based on the imaging signals and the reference data item stored in the memory.    
   
   
       6 . The peripheral device according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the peripheral device is a first peripheral device that is provided in association with one gaming machine and connected to a server;    the processor further operates to receive cash, to increase a credit stored inside by an amount of the cash received, to discharge a game medium in accordance with the credit when a lendout command is received, and to transmit, to the server, either one of the imaging signal thus selected and a data item obtained by conversion from the imaging signal when either one of a command to reserve a credit in the server and a command to read out a credit stored in the server is received.    
   
   
       7 . The peripheral device according to  claim 6 , wherein the processor operates to transmit, to the server, a data item obtained by conversion from the imaging signal when either one of a command to reserve a credit in the server and a command to read out a credit stored in the server is received.  
   
   
       8 . The peripheral device according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the peripheral device is a second peripheral device that is provided in association with at least one gaming machine and connected to a server; and    the processor operates to transmit, to the server, when a command to refund a credit is received, either one of the imaging signal thus selected, and a data item obtained by conversion from the imaging signal, and to discharge cash that is equivalent to a credit received from the server when a notification of refundability is received from the server.    
   
   
       9 . The peripheral device according to  claim 8 , wherein the processor operates to transmit, to the server, when a command to refund a credit is received, a data item obtained by conversion from the imaging signal.  
   
   
       10 . A server connected to a peripheral device of a gaming machine, wherein the peripheral device has: 
 an imaging unit that images a human face in response to one imaging command, and generates a plurality of different imaging signals; and    a first processor that operates to select one imaging signal from the plurality of imaging signals generated by the imaging unit in response to one imaging command,    and wherein the server comprises:    a second processor that operates to receive, from the peripheral device, either one of an imaging signal selected by the first processor and a data item obtained by conversion from the imaging signal; and    a memory that stores therein either one of the signal and the data item received by the second processor,    the second processor further operating to perform an authentication based on whether one that agrees with either one of the signal and the data item thus received is stored in the memory or not.    
   
   
       11 . A server connected to either one of a gaming machine and a peripheral device of a gaming machine, the server comprising: 
 a memory that stores therein a data item relating to a human face image; and    a processor that operates to receive either one of a plurality of imaging signals generated in response to one imaging command by an imaging unit that images a human face, and a plurality of data items obtained by conversion from the imaging signals, from either one of the gaming machine and the peripheral device, to select either one of a signal or a data item from either one of the plurality of signals and the plurality of data items thus received, and to perform an authentication based on whether one that agrees with either one of the signal and the data item thus selected is stored in the memory or not.    
   
   
       12 . The server according to  claim 11 , wherein data items in the memory are sorted.  
   
   
       13 . A game system comprising a peripheral device of a gaming machine and a server connected to the peripheral device, 
 wherein the peripheral device has:    an imaging unit that images a human face in response to one imaging command, and generates a plurality of different imaging signals; and    a first processor that operates to select one imaging signal from the plurality of imaging signals generated by the imaging unit in response to one imaging command,    and wherein the server has:    a second processor that operates to receive, from the peripheral device, either one of an imaging signal selected by the first processor and a data item obtained by conversion from the imaging signal; and    a first memory that stores therein either one of the signal and the data item received by the second processor,    the second processor further operating to perform an authentication based on whether one that agrees with either one of the signal and the data item thus received is stored in the first memory or not.    
   
   
       14 . The game system according to  claim 13 , wherein: 
 the first processor further operates to announce to a human that he/she should move his/her face while fixing his/her eyes on a predetermined point, before the imaging unit performs an imaging; and    in response to one imaging command, the imaging unit performs an imaging several times within a predetermined period of time, to thereby generate the plurality of imaging signals.    
   
   
       15 . The game system according to  claim 13 , wherein the first processor operates to select such an imaging signal that a width of a face pictured in an image based on the imaging signal is maximum.  
   
   
       16 . The game system according to  claim 13 , wherein: 
 in response to one imaging command, the imaging unit images a human face from front and right sides, to thereby generate a plurality of pairs of imaging signals; and    the first processor operates to select one of the plurality of pairs of imaging signals.    
   
   
       17 . The game system according to  claim 13 , wherein: 
 the peripheral device further has a second memory that stores therein a reference data item relating to at least one of a hue, a brightness, and a chroma of a predetermined area of an image that is based on the imaging signal generated by the imaging unit; and    the first processor further operates to correct an imaging signal thus selected, based on a data item relating to at least one of a hue, a brightness, and a chroma of an area, corresponding to the predetermined area, of an image that is based on the imaging signal, and the reference data item stored in the second memory.    
   
   
       18 . The game system according to  claim 13 , wherein: 
 the peripheral device is a first peripheral device that is provided in association with one gaming machine; and    the processor further operates to receive cash, to increase a credit stored inside by an amount of the cash received, to discharge a game medium in accordance with the credit when a lendout command is received, and to transmit, to the server, either one of the imaging signal thus selected and a data item obtained by conversion from the imaging signal when either one of a command to reserve a credit in the server and a command to read out a credit stored in the server is received.    
   
   
       19 . The game system according to  claim 13 , wherein: 
 the peripheral device is a second peripheral device that is provided in association with at least one gaming machine; and    the processor operates to transmit, to the server, when a command to refund a credit is received, either one of the imaging signal thus selected, and a data item obtained by conversion from the imaging signal, and to discharge cash that is equivalent to a credit received from the server when a notification of refundability is received from the server.    
   
   
       20 . A game system comprising a peripheral device of a gaming machine and a server connected to the peripheral device, 
 wherein the server has:    a memory that stores therein a data item relating to a human face image; and    a processor that operates to receive either one of a plurality of imaging signals generated in response to one imaging command by an imaging unit that images a human face, and a plurality of data items obtained by conversion from the imaging signals, from either one of the gaming machine and the peripheral device, to select either one of a signal or a data item from either one of the plurality of signals and the plurality of data items thus received, and to perform an authentication based on whether one that agrees with either one of the signal and the data item thus selected is stored in the memory or not.