Information processing apparatus, information reading apparatus, gaming machine, and gaming system

Abstract

Provided is an information processing apparatus including an interface capable of receiving identification information on a user retrieved by an information reading apparatus installed in a gaming hall, and a controller capable of retrieving locational information on an object related to the user in the gaming hall from a storage device based on the identification information on the user and performing image processing to create a floor map of the gaming hall in which an image associated with the object is mapped to a corresponding position of the object in the gaming hall. The storage device stores identification information for identifying the object together with the identification information on the user and further stores the locational information for locating the object together with the identification information on the object. The information processing apparatus enables grasp of objects related to the user in the gaming hall.

1 . An information processing apparatus comprising:
 an interface capable of receiving identification information on a user retrieved by an information reading apparatus installed in a gaming hall; and   a controller configured to retrieve locational information on an object related to the user in the gaming hall from a storage device based on the identification information on the user and perform image processing to create a floor map of the gaming hall in which an image associated with the object is mapped to a corresponding position of the object in the gaming hall,   wherein the storage device stores identification information for identifying the object together with the identification information on the user and further stores the locational information for locating the object together with the identification information on the object.   
     
     
         2 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the information processing apparatus is capable of communicating with another information reading apparatus installed in the gaming hall different from the information reading apparatus,   wherein the interface is configured to receive identification information on another user upon retrieval of the identification information on the other user at the other information reading apparatus, and   wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the identification information on the user is associated with the identification information on the other user based on the identification information stored in the storage device and create the floor map in such a manner that an image associated with the user is mapped to a corresponding position of the information reading apparatus in the gaming hall and an image associated with the other user is mapped to a corresponding position of the other information reading apparatus in the gaming hall if determining that the identification information on the user is associated with the identification information on the other user.   
     
     
         3 . An information processing apparatus comprising:
 an interface capable of receiving identification information on a user retrieved by an information reading apparatus, the information reading apparatus being installed in a gaming hall and capable of retrieving identification information for identifying a user stored in a storage medium; and   a controller configured to retrieve identification information on an object related to the user associated with the identification information on the user and locational information on the object associated with the identification information on the object from a storage device and perform image processing to create a floor map of the gaming hall in which an image associated with the user is mapped to a corresponding position of the information reading apparatus in the gaming hall and an image associated with the object is mapped to a corresponding position of the object in the gaming hall,   wherein the storage device stores identification information for identifying the object together with the identification information on the user and further stores the locational information for locating the object together with the identification information on the object.   
     
     
         4 . An information processing apparatus comprising:
 an interface capable of receiving identification information on a user retrieved by an information reading apparatus and locational information for locating a position of the user on a floor map of the gaming hall from the information reading apparatus, the information reading apparatus being installed in a gaming hall and capable of retrieving identification information for identifying a user stored in a storage medium; and   a controller configured to retrieve identification information on an object related to the user associated with the identification information on the user and locational information on the object associated with the identification information on the object from a storage device and perform image processing to create the floor map of the gaming hall by mapping an image associated with the user to a corresponding position of the information reading apparatus in the gaming hall and mapping an image associated with the object to a corresponding position of the object in the gaming hall, based on the locational information on the user and the locational information on the object,   wherein the storage device stores identification information for identifying the object together with the identification information on the user and further stores the locational information for locating the object together with the identification information on the object.   
     
     
         5 . An information processing apparatus comprising:
 an interface capable of receiving image information captured by each of a plurality of imaging devices installed in a gaming hall; and   a controller configured to perform image processing to create a floor map of the gaming hall in which view range information for indicating view ranges of the plurality of imaging devices is mapped by associating image information received at the interface with a view range related to the image information.   
     
     
         6 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the controller is configured to create the floor map in such a manner that icons of the plurality of imaging devices are mapped, and   wherein the interface is configured to send, upon selection of one of the icons by a user operation, an instruction requesting captured-image information to an imaging device corresponding to the selected icon and receive captured-image information from the imaging device.   
     
     
         7 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the interface is configured to send, upon selection of one of the view ranges by a user operation, an instruction requesting captured-image information to an imaging device corresponding to the selected view range and receive captured-image information from the imaging device. 
     
     
         8 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the gaming hall includes a plurality of gaming machines,   wherein, in the floor map, the plurality of gaming machines are mapped,   wherein the interface is configured to receive anomaly information from a gaming machine in an abnormal state in the plurality of gaming machines, and   wherein the controller is configured to create the floor map by indicating the gaming machine in the abnormal state distinguishably from the other gaming machines.   
     
     
         9 . An information processing apparatus comprising:
 an interface capable of receiving locational information for locating an information reading apparatus retrieved by the information reading apparatus installed in a gaming hall; and   a controller configured to perform image processing on a floor map of the gaming hall in which information reading apparatuses installed in the gaming hall are mapped to corresponding positions of the information reading apparatuses,   wherein the interface is configured to receive locational information on an information reading apparatus installed in the gaming hall, receive locational information on another information reading apparatus different from the information reading apparatus, and receive information indicating that the information reading apparatus starts communication with the other information reading apparatus, and   wherein the controller is configured to create the floor map by showing the information reading apparatus and the other information reading apparatus in such a manner that the information reading apparatus is communicating with the other information reading apparatus, based on the locational information on the information reading apparatus and the locational information on the other information reading apparatus.   
     
     
         10 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to dispose a first icon at a corresponding position of the information reading apparatus and a second icon at a corresponding position of the other information reading apparatus on the floor map, highlight the second icon if determining that the first icon is selected by a user operation, and highlight the first icon if determining that the second icon is selected by a user operation. 
     
     
         11 . An information processing apparatus comprising:
 an interface capable of retrieving status information for indicating statuses of apparatuses installed in a gaming hall and locational information for locating the apparatuses; and   a controller configured to perform image processing to create a floor map of the gaming hall in which the apparatuses installed in the gaming hall are mapped to corresponding positions by associating the status information with the positions of the apparatuses based on the locational information.   
     
     
         12 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to retrieve status information and locational information at predetermined intervals from a storage device storing the status information and the locational information with time information and create the floor map by mapping the status information based on the locational information. 
     
     
         13 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to create the floor map by mapping the status information based on the locational information every time the interface receives status information and locational information. 
     
     
         14 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising an input device capable of receiving an input of an intended time in accordance with a user operation,
 wherein the controller is configured to retrieve status information and locational information as of the intended time received from the input device from the storage device storing the status information and the locational information with time information and create the floor map by mapping the status information based on the locational information.   
     
     
         15 . An information reading apparatus comprising:
 a reading device capable of retrieving identification information for identifying a user stored in a storage medium; and   an interface configured to send, upon retrieval of the identification information on the user at the reading device, the identification information on the user to an information processing apparatus configured to perform image processing to create a floor map of a gaming hall in which an image associated with an object related to the user is mapped to a corresponding position of the object in the gaming hall based on the identification information on the user.   
     
     
         16 . An information reading apparatus comprising:
 an input device capable of receiving a start request indicating that the information reading apparatus starts communication with another information reading apparatus installed in a gaming hall in accordance with a user operation; and   an interface configured to send, based on the start request, locational information for locating the information reading apparatus installed in the gaming hall to an information processing apparatus configured to perform image processing on a floor map of the gaming hall in which information reading apparatuses installed in the gaming hall are mapped to corresponding positions of the information reading apparatuses,   wherein the interface is configured to receive the floor map created by indicating that the communication is being held from the information processing apparatus.   
     
     
         17 . A gaming machine comprising the information reading apparatus according to  claim 15 . 
     
     
         18 . A gaming system comprising:
 a plurality of information reading apparatuses installed in a gaming hall; and   an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with the plurality of information reading apparatuses,   wherein each of the information reading apparatuses includes:
 a reading device capable of retrieving identification information for identifying a user stored in a storage medium; and 
 a first interface configured to send the identification information on the user to the information processing apparatus upon retrieval of the identification information on the user at the reading device, 
   wherein the information processing apparatus includes:
 a second interface capable of receiving the identification information retrieved by the plurality of information reading apparatuses; and 
 a controller configured to retrieve locational information on an object related to the user in the gaming hall from a storage device based on the identification on the user and perform image processing to create a floor map of the gaming hall in which an image associated with the object is mapped to a corresponding position of the object in the gaming hall, and 
   wherein the storage device stores identification information for identifying the object together with the identification information on the user and further stores the locational information for locating the object together with the identification information on the object.   
     
     
         19 . A gaming system comprising:
 a plurality of information reading apparatuses installed in a gaming hall; and   an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with the plurality of information reading apparatuses,   wherein each of the plurality of information reading apparatuses includes:
 an input device capable of receiving a start request indicating that the information reading apparatus starts communication with another information reading apparatus installed in the gaming hall in accordance with a user operation; and 
 a first interface unit configured to send, based on the start request, locational information for locating the information reading apparatus installed in the gaming hall to the information processing apparatus, 
   wherein the information processing apparatus includes:
 a second interface configured to receive the locational information; and 
 a controller configured to perform image processing on a floor map of the gaming hall in which the information reading apparatuses installed in the gaming hall are mapped to corresponding positions of the information reading apparatuses, 
   wherein the second interface is configured to receive locational information of an information reading apparatus installed in the gaming hall, receive locational information of another information reading apparatus different from the information reading apparatus, receive information indicating that the information reading apparatus starts communication with the other information reading apparatus, and   wherein the controller is configured to create the floor map by showing the information reading apparatus and the other information reading apparatus in such a manner that the information reading apparatus is communicating with the other information reading apparatus, based on the locational information on the information reading apparatus and the locational information on the other information reading apparatus.   
     
     
         20 . A gaming system comprising:
 a plurality of apparatuses installed in a gaming hall; and   an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with the plurality of apparatuses,   wherein each of the plurality of apparatuses includes a first interface configured to send status information for indicating the status of the apparatus to the information processing apparatus, and   wherein the information processing apparatus includes:
 a second interface configured to receive status information for indicating the status of the apparatus and locational information for locating the apparatus from each of the plurality of apparatuses; and 
 a controller configured to perform image processing to create a floor map of the gaming hall in which the apparatuses installed in the gaming hall are mapped to corresponding positions by associating the status information with the positions of the apparatuses, based on the locational information.