Patent Publication Number: US-2006019748-A1

Title: Communication unit and sales management method of a gaming machine using the communication unit

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO THE RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application is based upon and claims the priorities from a prior Japanese patent application No. 213391, filed on Jul. 21, 2004, in Japan and a prior Japanese patent application No. 213392, filed on Jul. 21, 2004, in Japan, entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a communication unit which allows the connection between a gaming machine and a server which manages a store in which the gaming machine is installed through a communication line, and a sales management method of gaming machines using the communication unit.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Conventionally, in a store (for example, a game arcade, a pachinko hall or the like) where a plurality of gaming machines are installed, every day, after the business hours of the shop are over, a store clerk grasps a sales amount of each gaming machine by confirming data which a coin selector or the like mounted on each gaming machine indicates. However, such an operation to grasp the sales amount after the business hours are over every day gives rise to a drawback that the store cannot grasp the transition of sales amount or the like. Further, since the store management is performed without grasping the transition of the sales amount or the like, there also arises a drawback that the store cannot offer proper services which satisfy needs of customers.  
      To overcome such a drawback, conventionally, there has been proposed a gaming system (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open 2003-331085, hereinafter referred to as patent document) which allows a store to grasp a sales amount of each gaming machine in real time. That is, RFID tags are attached to a plurality of respective premiums accommodated in the inside of the gaming machine. Then, data which indicates a kind of the premium taken out from the gaming machine is obtained by reading the RFID tag attached to the premium using a reader mounted on the gaming machine. Thereafter, the data is collected and managed so as to allow the store to grasp the sales amount of each gaming machine in real time.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      However, to grasp the sales amount of the store and the transition of the sales amount using the gaming system described in the above-mentioned patent document, it is necessary that equipments such as the readers are mounted on all gaming machines installed in the store. However, there is hardly a case that all gaming machines which are installed in the store are manufactured by the same game maker. That is, the gaming machines installed in the store are manufactured by different game makers. Accordingly, there has been a drawback that the construction of the gaming system is difficult.  
      Further, with respect to a large game arcade which installs a large number of gaming machines therein or a major game arcade which manages a large number of stores which require the store management using a communication line or the like, to grasp the sales amount, the transition of sales amount and the like using the gaming system described in the above-mentioned patent document may bring large advantages. However, the system is not always necessary in a small gaming arcade which manages only one store and hence, when the equipment such as readers are preliminarily mounted on all gaming machines, there arises a drawback that the construction of the system becomes rather costly for the small game arcade.  
      Further, when the equipment such as the readers are preliminarily mounted on all gaming machines, even when the equipments such as readers are mounted on the gaming machines which are removed from the store, it is impossible to recycle the equipment and hence, it is necessary to purchase the equipment such as the readers each time the store purchases the gaming machines whereby the cost for construction and the management of the system is pushed up.  
      The present invention has been made under such circumstances and it is an object of the present invention to provide a communication unit and a sales management method of gaming machines using a communication unit which, in a store where a plurality of gaming machines which are manufactured by different game makers are installed, can construct a system which allows the store to grasp the sales amount in real time and, at the same time, can allow the store side to arbitrarily select the construction or the non-construction of the above-mentioned system depending on the size of the store.  
      It is also an object of the present invention to provide a communication unit and a sales management method of gaming machines using a communication unit which can reduce a cost for constructing and running the above-mentioned system.  
      According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication unit which is connectable with gaming machines and a server which manages a store in which the gaming machines are installed through a communication line, the communication unit comprising: identification information storing means which stores identification information respectively allocated to the gaming machines; sales information storing means which stores sales information on sales amounts of the gaming machines; receiving means which receives a signal outputted from the gaming machine when one of at least two different value gaming mediums is detected or read by the gaming machine; sales information updating means which updates the sales information stored in the sales information storing means in response to the signal received by the receiving means; and sales information transmitting means which transmits the sales information stored in the sales information storing means together with the identification information stored in the identification information storing means to the server through the communication line.  
      According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sales management method of gaming machines using a communication unit which is connectable with the gaming machines and a server which manages a store in which the gaming machines are installed through the communication line, the sales management method comprising the steps of: storing identification information respectively allocated to the gaming machines; storing sales information on sales amounts of the gaming machines; receiving a signal outputted from the gaming machine when one of at least two different value gaming mediums is detected or read by the gaming machine; updating the sales information stored in the sales information storing means in response to the signal received by the receiving means; and transmitting the sales information stored in the sales information storing means together with the identification information stored in the identification information storing means through the communication line.  
      In the above-mentioned communication unit and the sales management method of gaming machines using a communication unit according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, as the value gaming mediums which differ in the content of value, it is possible to use various kinds of mediums having the value of content such as coins, token, prepaid cards, cash card and the like. Further, these value gaming medium scan be used in desired combination.  
      Particularly, when coins which are inserted into the gaming machine and value information which is stored in a predetermined storage medium are used as the value gaming mediums, the receiving means receives a signal outputted from the gaming machine when the coin is inserted into the gaming machine or when the value information is read by the gaming machine through the communication line.  
      According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sales management method of gaming machines using a communication unit which is connectable with the gaming machines and a server which manages a store in which the gaming machines are installed through the communication line, the sales management method comprising the steps of: receiving identification information which are respectively allocated to the gaming machines and address information which are provided for allowing the communication unit to perform the communication with the server from a portable terminal; storing the identification information; and storing the address information.  
      According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable terminal capable of performing the transmission/reception of data with the above-mentioned communication unit and including inputting means, storing means and display means, wherein the portable terminal comprises: display control means which allows display means to display an inputted image which allows the inputting of the identification information and the address information through the inputting means based on image data for inputted image stored in the storing means; and set information transmitting means which transmits the identification information and the address information which are inputted through the inputting means when the inputted image is displayed on the display means to the communication unit. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a front view which schematically shows one example of gaming machines in which a communication unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention is mounted;  
       FIG. 2  is a network constitutional view showing one example of a store management system which is constituted of the communication unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the gaming machine in which the communication unit is mounted, and a server which manages a store in which the gaming machine is installed;  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing the inner structure of the communication unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing the inner structure of the server which constitutes the store management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart showing a sub routine of the processing which is performed in the communication unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 6  is a view showing one example of the sales information stored in a memory which the communication unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes;  
       FIG. 7  is a view showing one example of the sales information stored in a hard disc which the server according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes;  
       FIG. 8A  and  FIG. 8B  are views showing one example of the total sales amount information displayed on the server according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 9  is a front view which schematically shows one example of gaming machines in which a communication unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention is mounted;  
       FIG. 10  is a network constitutional view showing one example of a store management system which is constituted of the communication unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the gaming machine in which the communication unit is mounted, and a server which manages a store in which the gaming machine is installed;  
       FIG. 11  is a block diagram showing the inner structure of the communication unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 12  is a block diagram showing the inner structure of a mobile phone according to the second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 13  is a block diagram showing the inner structure of the server which constitutes the store management system according to the second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 14  is a flow chart showing a sub routine of the processing which is performed in the communication unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 15  is a flow chart showing the initializing processing which is performed in the communication unit and the mobile phone according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 16A  to  FIG. 16C  are views showing one example of an input image displayed on the mobile phone when the initializing processing shown in  FIG. 15  is performed. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Hereinafter, a communication unit and a sales management method of gaming machines using a communication unit are explained in detail in conjunction with embodiments shown in attached drawings.  
     First Embodiment  
       FIG. 1  is a front view which schematically shows one example of a gaming machine in which a communication unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention is mounted. The gaming machine  10  is a prize game which allows a player to acquire a premium such as a doll (not shown in the drawing) which is accommodated in the inside of the machine by gripping the doll with a crane. On a right side of a front surface of the gaming machine  10  as viewed from the center of the gaming machine  10 , a coin insertion opening  11  into which coins are inserted and a card insertion opening  12  into which a prepaid card is inserted are provided.  
      In the inside of the coin insertion opening  11 , a coin selector  19  (see  FIG. 3 ) which detects the coin inserted in the coin insertion opening  11  is formed. The coin selector  19  outputs a detection signal when the coin selector  19  detects the coin inserted through the coin insertion opening  11 . Here, the coins used in the present invention include value gaming mediums such as medals, game-use coins, tokens and the like.  
      In the inside of the card insertion opening  12 , a R/W (reader/writer)  18  (see  FIG. 3 ) is arranged. When the prepaid card which stores money information is inserted into the card insertion opening  12 , the R/W  18  reads the money information from the prepaid card and performs an operation to deduct a predetermined amount from an amount which the money information indicates and writes the money information which indicates the amount information after deduction. The R/W  18  also outputs a notification signal upon completion of the above-mentioned processing.  
      Here, the above-mentioned prepaid card corresponds to a storing medium according to the present invention. In the present invention, the storing medium is not limited particularly to the above-mentioned prepaid card and, for example, a card having magnetic stripes, an IC card and the like can be used as the storing medium. Further, the value information stored in the above-mentioned storing medium is not particularly limited and money information which indicates a money amount, information which indicates a predetermined point number and the like can be used as the value information. Further, as the R/W  18 , conventionally known equipment corresponding to the storing medium can be adopted.  
      On a left side of a lower portion of the front surface of the gaming machine  10 , a maintenance door  13  is mounted. In  FIG. 1 , the maintenance door  13  is shown in an opened state. In the gaming machine  10 , a maintenance box  14  is mounted on a front surface of the maintenance door  13 , while a game-use control printed circuit board  15  and a communication unit  100  are mounted on the maintenance box  14 . Further, the game-use control printed circuit board  15  and the communication unit  100  are connected with each other using a harness  16 .  
      Although the explanation is made with respect to a case in which the communication unit  100  is mounted in a prize gaming machine in this embodiment, the gaming machine in which the communication unit of the present invention is mounted is not particularly limited provided that the gaming machine can perform a game based on the coins or the value information stored in the storing medium (for example, a prepaid card or the like). For example, as such a gaming machine, for example, a video gaming machine, a medal gaming machine, a music gaming machine, an amusement vendor (a machine which takes small photo stickers) and the like can be named.  
      Further, although the explanation is made with respect to a case in which the communication unit  100  is mounted in the inside of the maintenance box  14  in this embodiment, that is, in the inside of the gaming machine  10 , the communication unit of the present invention may be mounted outside the gaming machine. When the communication unit of the present invention is mounted outside the gaming machine, in performing the communication between the communication unit and the server which manages the store by wireless, there is no possibility that the electric wave is attenuated by a casing of the gaming machine thus ensuring a favorable electric wave state. However, when it is possible to ensure the favorable electric wave state even when the communication unit is mounted in the inside of the gaming machine, it is preferable to mount the communication unit in the inside of the gaming machine as in the case of this embodiment. This is because that it is possible to conceal the communication unit from the player and hence, it is possible to prevent an illegal action such as mischief against the communication unit while preventing the player from suspecting the presence of the communication unit. Further, it is possible to connect the communication unit with equipment inside the gaming machine (for example, the game-use control printed circuit board or the like) using a harness or the like and hence, it is unnecessary to form holes in the casing of the gaming machine or the like thus bringing about an advantage that the communication unit can be easily mounted.  
       FIG. 2  is a network constitutional view showing one example of a store management system which is constituted of the communication unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the gaming machine in which the communication unit is mounted, and the server which manages a store in which the gaming machine is installed. It is needless to say that the number of gaming machines installed in the store and the number of floors of the store are not limited to the example shown in  FIG. 2 .  
      On the first floor of the store, two gaming machines  10  which mount the communication unit  100  therein and an access point  120  (an electric wave relay) are installed. Also on the second floor of the store, two gaming machines  10  and an access point  120  are installed in the same manner. The respective access points  120  are connected with the server  200  through a cable  130 .  
      In this embodiment, the explanation is made with respect to the case in which a local area network (LAN) is constituted by communicably connecting the communication units  100  and the server  200  through the access points  120 , the communication between the communication units  100  and the access points is performed by wireless, and the communication between the access points  120  and the server  200  is performed by wire. However, the present invention is not limited to such a case. For example, the communication units  100  and the server  200  may be allowed to be communicable with each other by wire or the communication units  100  and the server  200  may be allowed to be communicable with each other by wireless.  
      The communication line used in this embodiment includes not only a transmission line constituted of wire but also a transmission line constituted of wireless. A transmission method which is performed between the communication units  100  and the server  200  is not particularly limited and can be suitably selected. Further, in the store management system according to this embodiment, an infrastructure mode in which the communication units  100  and the server  200  are communicated with each other while relaying the access points  120  is adopted. However, the communication line of this embodiment may adopt an ad hoc mode which does not use the access point as relay points as the transmission method. Further, the communication line of this embodiment may adopt either one of a bridge type and a router type as a type of the access points  120 .  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing the inner structure of the communication unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, for facilitating the understanding of the invention, as equipment provided to the gaming machine  10 , only the game-use control printed circuit board  15 , the R/W  18  and the coin selector  19  are shown. It is needless to say, however, that the gaming machine  10  includes other peripheral equipment. The communication unit  100  is constituted of a body  101  and a receiving part  110 . The body  101  includes a one-chip CPU having a memory (RAM) (hereinafter simply referred to as “CPU”)  102 , wherein a wireless communication circuit part  103 , a LAN controller part  104  and an expansion I/F  105 , a serial I/F  106  and a general-purpose I/O  107  are connected to the CPU  102 . Further, a body  101  includes a power source circuit  108 .  
      The game-use control printed circuit board  15  of the gaming machine  20  is connected to the general-use I/O  107  through the harness  16 . The R/W  18  and the coin selector  19  are connected to the game-use control printed circuit board  15 . A notification signal is outputted to the game-use control printed circuit board  15  from the R/W  18  when the R/W  18  performs the processing of reading money information from a prepaid card, deducting a predetermined amount from an amount which the money information indicates and writing money information indicative of a money amount after deduction and, thereafter, is inputted to the general-purpose I/O  107  through the harness  16  from the game-use control printed circuit board  15 . A detection signal which is outputted to the game-use control printed circuit board  15  from the coin selector  19  when the coin selector  19  detects a coin is inputted to the general-purpose I/O  107  through the harness  16  from the game-use control printed circuit board  15 . The communication signal or the detection signal inputted to the general-purpose I/O  107  is inputted to the CPU  102 . Here, in this embodiment, although the explanation is made with respect to the case in which the communication unit  100  is connected with the game-use control printed circuit board  15  of the gaming machine  10 , the communication unit  100  may be connected with the coin selector  19  and/or the R/W  18 . By constructing the communication unit  100  in this manner, the communication unit  100  can directly receive the signal (the detection signal or the notification signal) from the coin selector  19  and/or the R/W  18 .  
      In a portion of the storage region of the memory  109 , data for performing the communication with the server  200 , for example, address information (for example, an IP address or the like) for allowing the communication between the server  200  and the communication units  100 , codes which are respectively allocated to the communication units  100 , identification information which are respectively allocated to the gaming machines  10 , an identifier of the network (for example, ESSID or the like), information for ciphering communication data using a predetermined ciphering method (for example, WEP, WPA or the like) or the like are stored. In this manner, the memory  109  functions as identification information storage means which stores the identification information which are respectively allocated to the gaming machines  10 .  
      Further, in a portion of the storage region of the memory  109 , as the sales information relevant to the sales amount of the gaming machine  10 , first sale information relevant to the sales amount attributed to the coins and second sale information relevant to the sales amount attributed to the value information are respectively stored. The sales information contains an amount of coins or value information used in the gaming machine  10  and points of time at which the coins or the value information are used. Here, when an amount of the coins or the value information used in the gaming machine  10  is a fixed amount (for example, when the amount is 100 yen for one game), as the sales information, only the points of time at which the coins or the value information are used maybe stored. In this manner, the memory  109  functions as sales information storing means which stores the sales information relevant to the sales amount in the gaming machine  10  and is capable of respectively storing the first sales information relevant to the sales amount attributed to the coins and the second sales information relevant to the sales amount attributed to the value information.  
      Further, a ROM (not shown in the drawing) is incorporated in the CPU  102  and a program for realizing the function of the communication unit  100  is stored in the ROM. The CPU  102  reads and executes the program so as to perform following processing (A) to (C).  
      (A) The CPU  102  receives a signal which is outputted from the gaming machine  10  when the coin which is inserted into the gaming machine  10  is detected by the gaming machine  10  or when the value information is read from the storage medium (for example, the prepaid card or the like) by the gaming machine  10  by the general-purpose I/O  107  through the harness  16 . In such an operation, the CPU  102  receives the detection signal which is outputted from the gaming machine  10  when the coin inserted in the gaming machine  10  is detected by the gaming machine  10  and the notification signal which is outputted from the gaming machine  10  when the value information is read from the prepaid card by the gaming machine  10  as signals which differ from each other. Here, the CPU  102  functions as the receiving means.  
      (B) The CPU  102  updates the sales information stored in the memory  109  (sales information storing means) based on the signal received by the gaming machine  10 . In such an operation, the CPU  102  functions as the sales information updating means. Here, the CPU  102  updates the first sales information upon receiving the detection signal and updates the second sales information upon receiving the notification signal.  
      (C) The CPU  102  transmits the sales information stored in the memory  109  (sales information storing means) together with the identification information stored in the memory  109  (identification information storing means) to the server  200  through a wireless communication circuit part  103  using an access point  120  as a relay. Here, the CPU  102  functions as the sales information transmitting means.  
      The wireless communication circuit part  103  enables the transmission/reception of data between the communication unit  100  and the server  200  by wireless. As the wireless communication circuit part  103 , a card type expansion device such as a PCMCIA type card, a MiniPCI type card, for example, can be adopted. Further, the LAN control part  104  enables the transmission/reception of data between the communication unit  100  and the server  200  by wire.  
      Various peripheral equipment can be connected to the expansion I/F  105 . A serial I/F  106  is an interface for performing the serial transmission and can adopt a serial transmission method such as RS-232, RS-422 or the like. Further, the receiving part  110  is connected to the CPU  102  of the body  101 . The receiving part  110  is provided for performing the infrared ray communication with a portable terminal (for example, a mobile phone or the like).  
       FIG. 4  is, in this embodiment, a block diagram showing the inner constitution of the server  200  which constitutes the store management system. The server  200  includes a CPU  201  which constitutes an arithmetic processing device, a ROM  202 , a RAM  203 , a wireless communication circuit part  204 , a LAN controller part  205 , and a hard disc drive  206 . The wireless communication circuit part  204  receives the sales information of the gaming machines  10  and the identification information which are respectively allocated to the gaming machines  10  from the communication unit  100  through the access point  120 . The hard disc drive  206  stores the sales information received from the communication unit  100  for respective identification information respectively allocated to the gaming machines  10 .  
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart showing a sub routine of the processing performed in the communication unit  100 . First of all, the CPU  102  performs the initializing processing (step S 10 ). This processing includes processing which allows the communication unit  100  to receive the data from the outside (for example, a mobile phone or the like) using the infrared ray communication through the receiving part  110  or the like and allows the memory  109  to store the data necessary for performing the communication between the gaming machine  10  and the server  200  based on the data, the setting of points of time and the like. The data for allowing the communication between the communication units  100  and the server  200  includes, for example, the address information (for example, IP address or the like) for allowing the communication between the communication unit  100  and the server  200 , codes which are respectively allocated to the communication units  100 , the identification information which are respectively allocated to the gaming machine  10   100 , the identifier of the network (for example, ESSID or the like), the information for performing the ciphering of the communication data using a predetermined ciphering method (for example, WEP, WPA or the like) and the like. Further, the processing for setting points of time is processing which sets points of time at which the detection signal or the notification signal is received from the gaming machine  10  and records such received points of time.  
      Next, the CPU  102  determines whether the CPU  102  receives the detection signal from the gaming machine  10  or not (step S 11 ). The detection signal is a signal which is outputted from the coin selector  19  through the game-use control printed circuit board  15  when the coin which is inserted into the coin inserting port  11  of the gaming machine  10  is detected by the coin selector  19  and is inputted to the CPU  102  through the harness  16  and the general-purpose I/O  107 . When the CPU  102  executes the processing in step S 11 , the CPU  102  functions as the detection signal receiving means.  
      When it is determined that the detection signal is received in step S 11 , the CPU  102  performs the processing to update the first sales information stored in the memory  109  based on the detection signal (step S 12 ).  FIG. 6  is a view showing one example of the sales information stored in the memory  109  provided to the communication unit  100 . The sales information is constituted of the first sales information relevant to the sales amount attributed to the coins and the second sales information relevant to the sales amount attributed to the value information. The points of time at which the detection signals are received are stored as the first sales information, while the points of time at which the notification signals are received are stored as the second sales information. In step S 12 , the CPU  102  allows the memory  109  to store the points of time at which the detection signals are received as the first sales information. Here, the CPU functions as the sales information updating means.  
      When it is determined that the detection signal is not received in step S 11  or the processing in step S 12  is executed, the CPU  102  determines whether the CPU  102  receives the notification signal from the gaming machine  10  or not (step S 13 ). The notification signal is a signal which is outputted from the R/W  18  when the R/W  18  performs the processing of reading money information from a prepaid card inserted into the card insertion port  12  of the gaming machine  10 , deducting a predetermined amount from an amount which the money information indicates and writing money information indicative of an amount after deduction into the prepaid card and is outputted to the CPU  102  through the harness  16  and the game-use control printed circuit board  15 . In executing the processing in step S 13 , the CPU  102  functions as the notification signal receiving means.  
      When it is determined that the notification signal is received in step S 13 , the CPU  102  performs the processing to update the second sales information stored in the memory  109  in response to the notification signal (step S 14 ). In this processing, the CPU  102  stores the points of time at which the notification signals are received as the second sales information to the memory (see  FIG. 6 ). Here, the CPU  102  functions as the sales information updating means.  
      When it is determined that the detection signal is not received in step S 13  or when the processing in step S 14  is executed, the CPU  102  determines whether a predetermined timing arrives or not (step S 15 ). Here, the predetermined timing is not particularly limited and may be, for example, a predetermined cycle (for example, every 10 minutes or every 1 hour or the like) or a predetermined condition (timing that the sales information is updated, timing that the sales amount which the sales information indicates reaches a predetermined amount, timing that the a request signal which requests the transmission of the sales information is received from the server).  
      In step S 15 , when it is determines that the predetermined timing arrives, the CPU  102  transmits the sales information stored in the memory  109  together with the identification information of the gaming machine  10  stored in the memory to the server  200  through the access point  120  from the wireless communication circuit part  103  (step S 16 ). Here, the CPU  102  functions as the sales information transmitting means which transmits the sales information stored in the memory  109  (sales information storing means) to the server  200  together with the identification information of the gaming machine  10  stored in the memory  109  (identification information storing means) through the communication line. Thereafter, the processing returns to step S 11  and the processing in step S 11  to S 16  is repeated. Here, the sales information which is transmitted to the server  200  among the sales information stored in the memory  109  may be readily deleted from the memory  109 , may be deleted at the predetermined timing, or may be deleted when an instruction indicative of the deletion of the data is inputted from the outside (for example, a mobile phone, the server or the like).  
      When the processing shown in  FIG. 6  is executed with respect to the communication units  100  of the respective gaming machines  10  installed in the store and the sales information are transmitted to the server  200 , the sales information are managed in the server  200  as shown in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7  shows one example of the sales information stored in the hard disc drive  206  provided to the sever  200 . In the drawing, symbol “UID” indicates names and numbers of the gaming machines  10  in the store and symbol “TID” indicates ID data (numbers) which are respectively allocated to the communication units  100  in the store. Here, “UID” corresponds to the identification information respectively allocated to the gaming machines.  
      In the hard disc drive  206  of the server  200 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , for every gaming machine  10 , that is, for every identification information “UID” which is respectively allocated to the gaming machine  10 , the ID data “TID” which is respectively allocated to the communication unit  100  and the sales information consisting of the first sales information and the second sales information are stored.  
      As shown in  FIG. 7 , since the sales information is stored in the hard disc drive  206  of the server  200 , by editing the sales information, it is possible to obtain the total sales information as shown in  FIG. 8A  and  FIG. 8B .  FIG. 8A  and  FIG. 8B  are views which respectively show one example of the total sales information respectively.  FIG. 8A  shows the total sales information which indicates the transition of the sales amount of the store which is edited based on the sales information (the first sales information and the second sales information) of all gaming machines  10  in the store.  FIG. 8B  shows the total sales information which indicates the sales amount in the respective gaming machines  10 , that is, the sales amount attributed to the coins and the sales amount attributed to the value information edited based on the sales information of the respective gaming machines  10  in the inside of the store. Here, in the drawing, “APPLICATION” indicates the sales amount attributed to the value information and “COIN” indicates the sales amount attributed to the coins. It is needless to say that the total sales information which can be edited based on the sales information in the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned example.  
      As described above, according to the communication unit  100 , the communication unit  100  can be connected with the gaming machine  10  and the server  200  through the communication line, receives the detection signal or the notification signal from the gaming machine  10  and stores the sales information relevant to the sales amount, and transmits the sales information to the server  200  at the predetermined timing, whereby it is possible to construct the store management system which is capable of grasping the sales amount in real time by mounting the communication units  100  in the respective gaming machines  10  (see  FIG. 2 ). Further, since the communication unit  100  is provided separately from the gaming machine  10 , it is possible to install the communication unit  100  in the respective gaming machines  10  which are manufactured by the different game makers. Still further, since the communication unit  100  is provided separately from the gaming machine  10 , the store side can arbitrarily select the construction or the non-construction of the store management system depending on the size of the store. Further, it is possible to construct the store management system by installing the communication units  100  in the existing gaming machines  10  and hence, the cost for constructing the system can be reduced. Still further, the communication unit  100  is detachable from the gaming machine  10  and is attachable to a newly introduced gaming machine. It is therefore possible for the store to decide whether or not they maintain the system and hence, the cost for running the system can be reduced.  
      It is preferable that the communication unit  100  according to this embodiment stores the first sales information relevant to the sales amount attributed to the coins and the second sales information relevant to the sales amount attributed to the value information respectively, updates these sales information, and transmits the updated sales information to the server  200 . That is, it is preferable that the communication unit  100  has the following constitution. The sale information storing means (for example, the memory  109 ) is capable of storing the first sales information relevant to the sales amount attributed to the coins and the second sales information relevant to the sales amount attributed to the value information respectively. On the other hand, the receiving means (for example, CPU  102 ) includes detection signal receiving means which receives the detection signal outputted from the gaming machine  10  when the coins which are inserted in the gaming machine are detected by the gaming machine, and the notification signal receiving means which receives the notification signal which is outputted from the gaming machine when the value information is read from the predetermined storing medium by the gaming machine. The sales information updating means (for example, the CPU  102 ) updates the first sales information stored in the sales information storing means based on the detection signal received by the detection signal receiving means and, at the same time, updates the second sales information stored in the identification information storing means based on the notification signal received by the notification signal receiving means.  
      Since the sales amount attributed to the coins and the sales amount attributed to the value information can be grasped respectively (see  FIG. 8B ), it is possible to smoothly carry out the store management by, for example, taking out the coins when the sales amount attributed to the coins arrives at the predetermined amount.  
      As has been described heretofore, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, due to the communication units which are connectable with the gaming machines and the server through the communication line, the sales information relevant to the sales amount of the gaming machines are stored in the communication units, and are transmitted to the server from the communication units and hence, by setting the communication unit to the respective gaming machines, it is possible to construct the system which can grasp the sales amount in real time. Further, since the communication unit is formed separately from the gaming machine, it is possible to mount the communication units in the respective gaming machines which are manufactured by the different game makers whereby it is possible to construct the system which can grasp the sales amount in real time in the store where the plurality of gaming machines which are manufactured by the different game makers are installed. Further, since the communication unit is provided separately from the gaming machine, the store side can arbitrarily select the construction or the non-construction of the store management system depending on the size of the store. Further, it is possible to construct the store management system by installing the communication units in the existing gaming machines and hence, the cost for constructing the system can be reduced. Still further, the communication unit  100  is detachable from the gaming machine  10  and is attachable to a newly introduced gamine machine. It is therefore possible for the store to decide whether or not they maintain the system and hence, the cost for running the system can be reduced.  
      Further, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, since the sales amount attributed to the coins and the sales amount attributed to the value information (for example, the money information or the like which is readable from the prepaid card or the like) can be grasped respectively, it is possible to smoothly carry out the store management by, for example, taking out the coins when the sales amount attributed to the coins arrive at the predetermined amount.  
     Second Embodiment  
      As described heretofore, the first embodiment of the present invention provides the communication units which are mounted in respective gaming machines separately from the gaming machines, collect the sales amounts of the gaming machines and can transmit the sales amount information to the server. According to such communication units, since the communication units can be arbitrarily and detachably mounted on the store side, in the store where the plurality of gaming machines which are manufactured by different game makers are installed, it is possible to construct the system which is capable of grasping the sales amounts in real time and, at the same time, the store side can arbitrarily select the construction or the non-construction of the system depending on the size of the store. Further, it is possible to reduce the cost for constructing and managing the system.  
      However, to mount the respective gaming machines in the above-mentioned communication units, for example, it is necessary to respectively set the information for communication such as the identification information for identifying the gaming machines, the address information for allowing the communication units per se to perform the communication with the server. Accordingly, when button switches, a display or the like are provided to the communication unit, the manufacturing cost is slightly pushed up.  
      The second embodiment is made under such circumstances and it is an object of the present invention to provide a communication unit, a portable terminal which is capable of performing the transmission/reception of data with the communication unit, and a sales management method using communication units which can reduce a cost and time for constructing a system which is capable of grasping the sales amounts in real time in a store where a plurality of gaming machines which are manufactured by different gaming makers are installed,  
       FIG. 9  is a front view which schematically shows one example of a gaming machine in which a communication unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention is mounted, while  FIG. 10  is a network constitutional view showing one example of a store management system of the second embodiment. Since these gaming machine and the store management system are substantially equal to the gaming machine and the store management system of the first embodiment except for the utilization of the portable terminal. Accordingly, like parts are indicated by the same numeral while adding  1000  and the detailed explanation of these parts is omitted except for the following explanation relevant to the portable terminal equivalent.  
      When the communication unit of the present invention is mounted outside the gaming machine, it is possible to adopt the infrared rays as a communication medium for performing the communication with the portable terminal. Further, when an electric wave is adopted as the communication medium for performing the communication with the portable terminal, there is no possibility that the electric wave is attenuated by an outer wall of a casing of the gaming machine thus ensuring a favorable electric wave state.  
      As described above, in installing the communication unit in the inside of the gaming machine, it is desirable to adopt the electric wave as the communication medium for performing the communication between the communication unit and the gaming machine. This is because that it is possible to perform the setting of the identification information and the address information from the portable terminal in a state that the communication unit is mounted in the inside of the gaming machine without opening a door (for example, a maintenance door  1013 ) which is provided to the gaming machine and hence, it is possible to prevent an illegal action (for example, the installation of illegal equipment, picking of money from the inside of the gaming machine and the like). Further, in setting the identification information and the address information, it is unnecessary for a shop manager to stand on a site thus reducing time and efforts necessary for constructing the system.  
      In mounting the communication unit in the inside of the gaming machine, it is also possible to adopt the infrared rays as the communication medium for performing the communication between the communication unit and the gaming machine. In this case, before mounting the communication unit in the inside of the gaming machine, the identification information or the address information may be preliminarily set in the communication unit from the portable terminal using the infrared ray communication (for example, 1rDA or the like). Further, by mounting a sensor which detects the infrared rays on the communication unit, the sensor may be exposed outside the gaming machine.  
       FIG. 11  is a block diagram showing the inner structure of the communication unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, for facilitating the understanding of the invention, as an equipment provided to the gaming machine  1010 , only the game-use printed circuit board  1015 , the R/W  1018  and the coin selector  1019  are shown. It is needless to say, however, that the gaming machine  1010  includes other peripheral equipment. The communication unit  1100  is constituted of a body  1101  and a receiving part  1110 . The body  1101  includes a one-chip CPU having a memory (RAM)  1109  (hereinafter simply referred to as “CPU”)  1102 , wherein a wireless communication circuit part  1103 , a LAN controller part  1104  and an expansion I/F  1105 , a serial I/F  106  and a general-purpose I/O  1107  are connected to the CPU  1102 . Further, a body  1101  includes a power source circuit  1108 .  
      The game-use control printed circuit board  1015  of the gaming machine  1010  is connected to the general-use I/O  1107  through the harness  1016 . The R/W  1018  and the coin selector  1019  are connected to the game-use printed circuit board  1015 . A notification signal is outputted to the game-use control printed circuit board  1015  from the R/W  1018  when the R/W  1018  performs the processing of reading money information from a prepaid card, deducting a predetermined amount from an amount which the money information indicates and writing money information indicative of an amount after deduction and, thereafter, is inputted to the general-purpose I/O  1107  through the harness  1016  from the game-use control printed circuit board  1015 . A detection signal which is outputted to the game-use control printed circuit board  1015  from the coin selector  1019  when the coin selector  1019  detects a coin is inputted to the general-purpose I/O  1107  through the harness  1016  from the game-use control printed circuit board  1015 . The notification signal or the detection signal inputted to the general-purpose I/O  1107  is inputted to the CPU  1102 . Here, in this embodiment, although the explanation is made with respect to the case in which the communication units  1100  are connected with the game-use control printed circuit board  1015  of the gaming machine  1010 , the communication unit  1100  may be connected with the coin selector  1019  and/or the R/W  1018 . By constructing the communication unit  1100  in this manner, the communication unit  1100  can directly receive the signal (the detection signal or the notification signal) from the coin selector  1019  and/or the R/W  1018  without via the game-use control printed circuit board  1015   
      In a portion of a storage region of the memory  1109 , the identification information which is respectively allocated to the gaming machine  1010  is stored. The identification information is not particularly limited and, for example, symbols which are constituted of the type and the number of the gaming machine  1010  or the line can be named as the identification information. The above-mentioned identification information is data which is transmitted from the mobile phone  1300  described later. The memory  1109  functions as the identification information storing means which stores the identification information received from the mobile phone  1300  by the set information receiving means (CPU  1102 ) described later.  
      Further, in a portion of the storage region of the memory  1109 , the address information for allowing the communication unit  1100  to perform the communication with the server is stored. The address information is not particularly limited and the IP address or the like of the communication unit  1100  per se may be named as the address information. The above-mentioned address information is data transmitted from the mobile phone  1300  described later. The memory  1109  functions as the address information storing means which stores the address information received from the mobile phone  1300  using the set information receiving means (CPU 1102 ) described later.  
      Further, in a portion of the storage region of the memory  1109 , data such as serial numbers allocated to the respective communication units  1100  mounted in the respective gaming machines  1010 , an identifier of the network (for example, ESSID or the like), information for ciphering communication data using a predetermined ciphering method (for example, WEP, WPA or the like) or the like are stored. These data are also data for allowing the communication between the communication units  1100  and the server  1200  and are data which are transmitted from the mobile phone  1300  using the set information receiving means (CPU  1102 ) described later.  
      Further, in a portion of the storage region of the memory  1109 , as the sales information relevant to the sales amount of the gaming machine  1010 , first sales information relevant to the sales amount attributed to the coins and second sale information relevant to the sales amount attributed to the value information are respectively stored. The sales information contains an amount of coins or value information used in the gaming machine  1010  and points of time at which the coins or the value information are used. Here, when an amount of the coins or the value information used in the gaming machine  1010  is a fixed amount (for example, when the amount is  100  yen for one game), as the sales information, only the points of time at which the coins or the value information are used may be stored. In this manner, the memory  1109  functions as sales information storing means which stores the sales information relevant to the sales amount in the gaming machine  1010  and is capable of respectively storing the first sales information relevant to the sales amount attributed to the coins and the second sales information relevant to the sales amount attributed to the value information.  
      Further, a ROM (not shown in the drawing) is incorporated in the CPU  1102  and a program for realizing the function of the communication unit  1100  is stored in the ROM. The CPU  1102  reads and executes the program so as to perform following processing (A) to (E).  
      (A) The CPU  1102  receives the identification information which a reallocated to the gaming machines  1010  respectively and the address information for performing the communication between the gaming machines  1010  and the server  200  from the mobile phone  1300 . Here, the CPU  1102  functions as the set information receiving means.  
      (B) The CPU  1102  allows the memory  1109  (identification information storing means) to store the identification information received in the above-mentioned (A) and also allows the memory  1109  (address information storing means) to store the address information received in the above-mentioned (A).  
      (C) The CPU  1102  receives a signal which is outputted from the gaming machine  1010  when the coin which is inserted into the gaming machine  1010  is detected by the gaming machine  1010  or when the value information is read from the storage medium (for example, the prepaid card or the like) by the gaming machine  1010  by the general-purpose I/O  1107  through the harness  1016 . In such an operation, the CPU  1102  receives the detection signal which is outputted from the gaming machine  1010  when the coin inputted to the gaming machine  1010  is detected by the gaming machine  1010  and the notification signal which is outputted from the gaming machine  1010  when the value information is read from the prepaid card by the gaming machine  1010  as signals which differ from each other. Here, the CPU  1102  functions as the receiving means.  
      (D) The CPU  1102  updates the sales information stored in the memory  1109  (sales information storing means) based on the signal received by the gaming machine  1010 . In such an operation, the CPU  1102  functions as the sales information updating means. Here, the CPU  1102  updates the first sales information upon receiving the detection signal and updates the second sales information upon receiving the notification signal.  
      (E) The CPU  1102  transmits the sales information stored in the memory  1109  (sales information storing means) together with the identification information stored in the memory  1109  (identification information storing means) to the server  1200  through a wireless communication circuit part  1103  using an access point  1120  as a relay based on the address information stored in the memory  1109  (address information storing means). Here, the CPU  1102  functions as the sales information transmitting means.  
      The wireless communication circuit part  1103  enables the transmission/reception of data between the communication unit  1100  and the server  1200  by wireless. As the wireless communication circuit part  1103 , a card type expansion device such as a PCMCIA type card, a MiniPCI type card, for example, can be adopted. Further, the LAN controller part  1104  enables the transmission/reception of data between the communication unit  1100  and the server  1200  by wire.  
      Various peripheral equipment can be connected to the expansion I/F  1105 . A serial I/F  1106  is an interface for performing the serial transmission and can adopt a serial transmission method such as RS-232, RS-422 or the like.  
      A receiving part  1110  which is provided with infrared ray receiving elements (not shown in the drawing) is connected to the CPU  1102  of the body  1101 . The receiving part  1110  is constituted to perform the infrared ray communication with the mobile phone  1300 . Identification information and address information transmitted from the mobile phone  1300  are inputted to the CPU  1102  through the receiving part  1110  and are stored in the memory  1109 . Here, the communication method of the infrared ray communication of the communication unit  1100  and the mobile phone  1300  is not particularly limited and, for example, conventionally known method such as IrDA or the like can be adopted.  
       FIG. 12  is a block diagram showing an inner structure of the mobile phone  1300 .  
      Here, the mobile phone  1300  corresponds to the portable terminal according to the present invention.  
      The mobile phone  1300  includes an operation part  1304  as an input means, a liquid crystal panel  1306  as a display means, an infrared ray communication part  1308  which is provided with infrared ray receiving elements (not shown in the drawing) and LED or the like (not shown in the drawing), a wireless part  1310 , a voice circuit  1312 , a speaker  1314 , a microphone  1316 , a transmission/reception antenna  1318 , a non-volatile memory  1320 , a microcomputer  1322  and a secondary cell  1324 .  
      The wireless part  1310  is controlled by the microcomputer  1322  and performs transmission/reception with respect to a base station through a transmission/reception antenna  1318  using electric wave as medium. The voice circuit  1312  outputs the receiving signal outputted from the wireless part  1310  through the microcomputer  1322  to the speaker  1314  and, at the same time, outputs the voice signal outputted from the microphone  1316  as a transmitting signal to the wireless part  1310  through the microcomputer  1322 .  
      The speaker  1314  converts the receiving signal outputted from the voice circuit  1312  into the receiving voice and outputs the receiving voice and the microphone  1316  converts the transmitting voice uttered by an operator into the voice signal and outputs the voice signal to the voice circuit  1312 . The non-volatile memory  1320  stores various data and various programs in a non-volatile manner. The secondary cell  1324  supplies the power to the respective circuits. The microcomputer  1322  is constituted of a CPU, a ROM and a RAM and, for example, executes the dialing/ringing processing of the telephone, creation/transmission/reception processing of an electronic mail and the Internet processing and the like. Here, the transmission/reception of the electronic mail and the transmission/reception of data through the Internet are performed by the microcomputer  1322  through the wireless part  1310  and the transmission/reception antenna  1318 .  
      The microcomputer  1322  downloads, based on a predetermined instruction which is inputted through the operation part  304  as the input means, applications for setting the identification information and the address information in the communication unit  1100  from the server  1200  through the Internet and stores the applications in the non-volatile memory  1320 . This application includes a program relating to the present invention and various image data (for example, image data for inputting image or the like).  
      Then, the microcomputer  1322  functions as following (i) to (ii) by reading out the above-mentioned program from the non-volatile memory  1320  and by executing the program.  
      (i) The microcomputer  1322  displays an input image which enables the input of the identification information and the address information on the liquid crystal panel  1306  (display means) through the operation part  1304  (input means) based on image data for inputting image stored in the non-volatile memory  1320 .  
      At this time, the microcomputer  1322  functions as the display control means.  
      (ii) The microcomputer  1322  transmits the identification information and the address information which are inputted through the operation part  1304  (input means) when the input image is displayed on the liquid crystal panel  1306  (display means) to the communication unit  1100  through the infrared ray communication part  1308 .  
      At this time, the microcomputer  1322  functions as the set information transmission means.  
      In this embodiment, the case in which the mobile phone  1300  downloads the program with respect to the present invention from the server  1200  is explained. However, the program of the present invention may be preliminarily stored (preinstalled) in the storing means of the portable terminal.  
       FIG. 13  is a block diagram showing the inner structure of the server  1200  which constitutes the store management system. The server  1200  includes a CPU  1201  as an arithmetic processing device, a ROM  1202 , a RAM  1203 , a wireless communication circuit part  1204 , a LAN controller part  1205 , a hard disc drive  1206  and an internet communication part  1207 . The wireless communication circuit part  1204  receives, from the communication unit  1100  via the access point  1120 , the sales information of the gaming machine  1010  and the identification information which is respectively allocated to the gaming machine  1010 . The hard disc drive  1206  stores the sales information received from the communication unit  1100  for every identification information which is respectively allocated to each gaming machine  1010 . The internet communication part  1207  enables the communication via the Internet and the CPU  1201  allows the Internet communication part  1207  to perform the communication with the mobile phone  1300  via the Internet.  
      Further, the hard disc drive  1206  stores applications including the program with respect to the present invention and various image data (for example, image data for inputting image and the like).  
      The CPU  1201  reads out the above-mentioned application from the hard disc drive  1206  and transmits the application to the mobile phone  1300  through the internet communication  1207  via the Internet at the time of receiving a signal indicating a request for downloading the application from the mobile phone  1300 .  
       FIG. 14  is a flow chart showing a sub routine of a processing executed in the communication unit.  
      First of all, the CPU  1102  executes the initializing processing (step S 110 ). Although the processing in the step S 110  is described later, by executing this processing, the identification information and the address information are stored in a memory  1109 , the time for recording the receiving time at which a detection signal or a notification signal is received from the gaming machine  1010  is set.  
      In this embodiment, the processing of the step S 110  is executed before the communication unit  1100  is mounted in the inside of the gaming machine  1010 . The processing of the step S 110  is executed and the identification information and the address information are set by the mobile phone  1300  and, thereafter, the processing of step S 111  to S 116  which are described later are executed. It is needless to say that, in the present invention, the processing of the step S 110  is executed in a state that the communication unit  1100  is mounted in the inside of the gaming machine  1010  and, thereafter, successively, the processing of the step S 111  to S 116  are executed.  
      Next, the CPU  1102  determines whether the CPU  1102  receives the detection signal from the gaming machine  1010  or not (step S 111 ). The detection signal is a signal which is outputted from the coin selector  1019  through the game-use control printed circuit board  15  when the coin which is inserted into the coin inputting port  1011  of the gaming machine  1010  is detected by the coin selection  1019  and is inputted to the CPU  1102  through the harness  1016  from the general-purpose I/O  1107 . When the CPU  1102  executes the processing in step S 111 , the CPU  1102  functions as the detection signal receiving means.  
      When it is determined that the detection signal is received in step S 111 , the CPU  1102  performs the processing to update the first sales information stored in the memory  1109  based on the detection signal (step S 112 ).  
      Also in this embodiment, based on the sales information shown in  FIG. 7  in the first embodiment, in step S 112 , the CPU  1102  allows the memory  1109  to store the point of times at which the detection signals are received as the first sales information. Here, the CPU  1102  also functions as the sales information updating means.  
      When it is determined that the detection signal is not received in step S 111  or the processing in step S 112  is executed, the CPU  1102  determines whether the CPU  1102  receives the notification signal from the gaming machine  10  or not (step S 113 ). The notification signal is a signal which is outputted from the R/W  1018  through the game-use control printed circuit board  1015  when the R/W  1018  performs the processing of reading money information from a prepaid card inserted into the card insertion port  1012  of the gaming machine  1010 , deducting a predetermined amount from an amount which the money information indicates and writing money information indicative of an amount after deduction to the prepaid card and is inputted to the CPU  1102  from the general-use I/O  1107  through the harness  1016 . In executing the processing in step S 113 , the CPU  1102  functions as the notification signal receiving means.  
      When it is determined that the notification signal is received in step S 113 , the CPU  1102  performs the processing to update the second sales information stored in the memory  1109  in response to the notification signal (step S 114 ). In this processing, the CPU  1102  stores the points of time at which the notification signals are received as the second sales information in the memory  1109 (see  FIG. 7 ). Here, the CPU  1102  functions as the sales information updating means.  
      When it is determined that the detection signal is not received in step S 113  or when the processing in step S 114  is executed, the CPU  1102  determines whether a predetermined timing arrives or not (step S 115 ). Here, the predetermined timing is not particularly limited and may be, for example, a predetermined cycle (for example, every 10 minutes or every 1 hour or the like) or a predetermined condition (timing that the sales information is updated, timing that the sales amount which the sales information indicates reaches a predetermined amount, timing that the a request signal which requests the transmission of the sales information is received from the server).  
      In step S 115 , when it is determines that the predetermined timing arrives, the CPU  1102  transmits the sales information stored in the memory  1109  together with the identification information of the gaming machine  1010  stored in the memory to the server  1200  through the access point  1120  from the wireless communication circuit part  1103  based on the address information stored in the memory  1109  (step S 116 ). Here, the CPU  1102  functions as the sales information transmitting means which transmits the sales information stored in the memory  1109  (sales information storing means) to the server  1200  together with the memory  1109  (identification information storing means) to the server  1200  through the communication line based on the address information stored in the memory  1109  (identification information storing means). Thereafter, the processing returns to step S 111  and the processing in step S 111  to S 116  is repeatedly executed. Here, the sales information which is transmitted to the server among the sales information stored in the memory  1109  may be readily deleted from the memory  1109 , may be deleted at the predetermined timing, or may be deleted when an instruction indicative of the deletion of the data is inputted from the outside (for example, a mobile phone, the server or the like).  
      In the communication units  1100  of respective gaming machines  1010  installed in the store, the processing shown in  FIG. 7  in the first embodiment is executed, wherein when the sales information is transmitted to the server  1200 , in the server  1200  the sales information is managed in the same manner as the management shown in  FIG. 8  in the first embodiment.  
       FIG. 15  is a flow chart showing an initial setting processing which is executed in the communication unit  1100  and the mobile phone  1300 . The processing is executed in step S 110  in the processing shown in  FIG. 15 .  
      First of all, the microcomputer  1322  of the mobile phone  1300  reads out image data for inputting images from the non-volatile memory  1320  and, based on the image data, executes the processing which displays the input image on the liquid crystal panel  1306  (step S 300 ).  
      As a result of the processing of the step S 300 , the images shown in  FIG. 16A  to  FIG. 16C  are displayed on the liquid crystal panel  1306  of the mobile phone  1300 .  
       FIG. 16A  is input images which are displayed on the liquid crystal panel  1306  initially at the time of executing the processing of step S 300 .  
      On the center upper side of the liquid crystal panel  1306 , an image indicating the choice of “setting of ID relevant data” and an image indicating the choice of “setting of IP relevant data” are displayed.  
      When the input images shown in  FIG. 16A  are displayed, by inputting the instruction to select either “setting of ID relevant data” or “setting of IP relevant data” through the operation part  1304 , the input images shown in  FIG. 16B  or  FIG. 16C  are displayed.  
       FIG. 16B  shows input images which are displayed on the liquid crystal panel  1306  when the instruction to select the image indicating the choice of “setting of ID relevant data” through the operation part  1304  is imputed when the input images shown in  FIG. 16A  are displayed.  
      In the center upper side of the liquid crystal panel  1306 , an image indicating an entry “TID” and an image indicating an entry “UID” are displayed and images showing input columns below the images indicating respective entries are displayed. “UID” is constituted of the name and the number of the gaming machine  1010  in the inside of the store and corresponds to the identification information according to the identification according to the present invention. “TID” shows a serial number which is allocated to each communication unit  1100  mounted in the store.  
      When the input images shown in  FIG. 16B  are displayed, by inputting predetermined letters and/or numbers in the respective input columns and inputting the instruction and by selecting the choice of “SEND” which is positioned in the center lower portion of the liquid crystal panel  1306  through the operation part  1304 , various data including the identification information can be transmitted to the communication unit  1100 .  
       FIG. 16C  is inputting images which are displayed on the liquid crystal panel  1306  in the case that the instruction to select the image indicating the choice of “determination of IP relevant data” is inputted through the operation part  1304  when the input images shown in  FIG. 16A  are displayed.  
      On the liquid crystal panel  1306 , images indicating the respective entries are displayed in the order of “ESSID”, “IP”, “NETMASK”, “BROADCAST”, “GATEWAY”, “WEP” from the above. Images showing respective input columns are displayed under the images showing the respective entries. “ESSID” is a network identifier. “IP” is an IP address of the communication unit  1100  and used at the time when the communication unit  1100  performs the communication with the server  1200 . This IP address corresponds to the address information for performing the communication with the server  1200 . “NETMASK”, “BROADCAST”, “GATEWAY” are used respectively at the time when the communication with the server  1200  is performed. A predetermined password is inputted to the “WEP”. When the input images shown in  FIG. 16C  are displayed, by inputting predetermined letters and/or numbers in the respective input columns and inputting the instruction to select the choice of “SEND” which is positioned in the center lower portion of the liquid crystal panel  1306  through the operation part  1304 , various data including the identification information can be transmitted to the communication unit  1100 .  
      When the processing of the above-mentioned step S 300  is executed, the microcomputer  1322  functions as the display control means. Next, the microcomputer  1322  receives the inputting of the identification information and address information through the operation part  1304  as the input means (step S 301 ). Then, the microcomputer  1322  transmits the identification information and the address information which are inputted in the step S 301  to the communication unit  1100  through the infrared ray communication through the infrared ray communication part  1308  (step S 302 ). At this time, the microcomputer  1322  functions as the set information transmitting means which transmits the identification information and the address information inputted through the operation part  1304  (input means) when the input images (see  FIG. 16A  to  FIG. 16C ) on the liquid crystal panel  1306  to the communication unit  1100 .  
      Here, in this embodiment, after the processing of the step S 301  is executed, the following processing may be executed. That is, before the identification information and the address information inputted in the step S 301  are transmitted to the communication unit  1100 , the identification information and the address information are once transmitted to the server  1200 . The server  1200  determines whether the identification information and the address information received from the mobile phone  1300  are overlapped with the identification information and the address information which are set in other communication unit  1100  or not and transmits the determination result to the mobile phone  1300 . When the determination result indicating that the identification information and the address information inputted from the mobile phone  1300  are not overlapped with the identification information and the address information set in the other communication unit is received, the microcomputer  1322  of the mobile phone  1300  executes the processing of the step S 302  to transmit the identification information and the address information to the communication unit  1100 . On the other hand, when the determination result indicating that the identification information and the address information inputted from the mobile phone  1300  are overlapped with the identification information and the address information set in the other communication unit is received, the processing of the step S 302  may not be executed. With such a constitution, it can obviate that wrong identification information and address information are set in the communication unit  1100 .  
      When the identification information and the address information are transmitted from the mobile phone  1300 , the CPU  1102  of the communication unit  1100  receives the identification information and the address information through the receiving part  1110  (step S 200 ). At this time, the CPU  1102  functions as the set information receiving means.  
      Next, the CPU  1102  allows the identification information and the address information received in the step S 200  to be stored in one part of the storing region of the memory  1109  respectively (step S 201 ). Thereafter, the CPU  1102  transmits a setting completion notification signal showing that the setting of the identification information and the address information in the communication unit  1100  is completed to the mobile phone  1300  (step S 202 ).  
      Subsequently, the CPU  1102  performs the communication with the server  1200  based on the address information stored in the memory  1109  and acquires the data corresponding to the present time from the server  1200  and, thereafter, performs the processing to set the time (step S 203 ). Here, the processing to set the time is a processing to set the time for recording the receiving time at which a detection signal or a notification signal is received from the gaming machine  1010 .  
      In this embodiment, the case in which the communication unit  1100  acquires the data corresponding to the present time from the server  1200  and sets the time. However, the present invention is not limited to this constitution and, for example, the time may be set in the communication unit  1100  by allowing the mobile phone  1300  to transmit the data with respect to the present time.  
      As described hereinabove, according to the communication unit  1100 , it is possible to store the identification information and the address information transmitted from the mobile phone  1300 , by inputting the identification information and the address information to the mobile phone  1300  and by transmitting the identification information and the address information from the mobile phone  1300 , the identification information and the address information can be set in the communication unit  1100 . Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of buttons, displays or the like which are necessary at the time of inputting the identification information and the address information to the communication unit  1100  and hence, the cost can be reduced.  
      Further, by using the communication unit  1100 , the gaming machine  1010  and the server  1200  can be connected through the communication line and hence, following constitution can be realized. That is, the sales information with respect to the sales amount information is stored by receiving a detection signal or a notification signal from the gaming machine  1010  and the sales amount is transmitted to the server at a predetermined timing and hence, by mounting the communication unit  1100  on each gaming machine  1010 , the store management system which enables to grasp the sales amount in real time can be constructed (see  FIG. 10 ).  
      Further, since the communication unit  1100  constitutes a body separated from the gaming machine  1010 , the communication units  1100  can be respectively mounted on the gaming machines  1010  which are manufactured by different game makers and hence, it is possible to construct a store management system which can grasp the sales amount in the store provided with a plurality of gaming machines  1010  manufactured by different game makers in real time.  
      Further, since the communication unit  1100  constitutes a body separated from the gaming machine  1010 , the store side can arbitrarily select whether to construct store management system or not based on the store size or the like.  
      Further, by mounting the communication unit  1100  on the existing gaming machine  1010 , it is possible to construct the store management system. Accordingly, the cost of constructing the system can be reduced.  
      Further, in the case that a gaming machine  1010  is removed from the store and a new gaming machine  1010  is installed, the communication unit  1100  may be dismounted from the gaming machine to be removed and be mounted on the newly-installed gaming machine  1010  thus also reducing the cost of system management.  
      In the communication units of this embodiment, as in the communication unit  1100  according to this embodiment, it is favorable that the first sales information relevant to the sales amount attributed to coins and the second sales information relevant to the sale amount attributed to value information are separately stored, updated and transmitted to the server  1200 .  
      That is, the sales information storing means (for example, the memory  1109 ) can store the first sales information relevant to the sales amount attributed to coins and the second sales information relevant to the sale amount attributed to value information separately and it is favorable that the receiving means (for example, the CPU  1102 ) is provided with the means to receive a detection signal outputted from the gaming machine when the gaming machine detects a coin which is inserted into the gaming machine and the means to receive a notification signal outputted from the gaming machine when the gaming machine reads out the value information from a predetermined storing medium and, the sales information updating means (for example, the CPU  1102 ) updates the first sales information stored in the sales information storing means in response to the detection signal received by the detection signal receiving means and updates the second sales information stored in the above-mentioned identification information storing means in response to the notification signal received by the notification signal receiving means.  
      This is because that, since the sales amount by coins and the sales amount by value information can be grasped separately (see  FIG. 9B  of the first embodiment), for example, by configuring that the coins are taken out when the sales amount by coins reaches a predetermined amount, the store management can be performed more smoothly.  
      By using the mobile phone  1300  according to the present invention, by inputting the identification information and the address information when the input images are displayed and by transmitting the identification information and the address information to the communication unit  1100  (see  FIG. 15 ,  FIG. 16A  to  FIG. 16C ), the identification information and the address information can be set in the communication unit  1100 . Accordingly, it is not necessary to directly operate the communication unit  1100  mounted on each gaming machine  1010  thus reducing troubles of constructing the system.  
      Further, by using the program with respect to the present invention, by inputting the identification information and the address information to the mobile phone  1300  and by transmitting the identification information and the address information to the communication unit  1100 , the identification information and the address information can be set in the communication unit  1100 . Accordingly, it is not necessary to directly operate the communication unit  1100  mounted on each gaming machine  1010  thus reducing troubles of constructing the system.  
      As has been explained, according to second embodiment of the invention, it is possible to store the identification information and the address information transmitted from the portable terminal (for example, mobile phone or the like) and hence, it is possible to set the identification information and the address information in the communication unit by inputting the identification information and the address information in the portable terminal and thereafter transmitting the identification information and the address information from the portable terminal. Accordingly, it is unnecessary to provide a plurality of button switches, a display and the like which become necessary at the time of inputting the identification information and the address information thus leading to the reduction of cost.  
      Further, by allowing the communication unit and the portable terminal to be communicated with each other by wireless in a state that the communication unit is mounted in the inside of the gaming machine, it is unnecessary for the store manager to stand on a site thus reducing time and efforts necessary for constructing the system. That is, when the communication unit is mounted in the inside of the gaming machine, it is necessary to set the information for communication after opening the door or the like which the gaming machines possess, there exists the possibility that an illegal action (for example, applying tricks to the gaming machine, picking of the money from the gaming machine or the like) is conducted. To prevent such an illegal action, in setting the identification information and the address information, it is necessary for the store manager to stand on the site and hence, the time and efforts for constructing the system are increased. As described above, by allowing the setting of the communication unit by wireless inside and outside the gaming machine after mounting the communication unit in the inside of the gaming machine, it is possible to overcome such a drawback.  
      As the above-mentioned wireless communication, it is desirable to adopt a wireless method in which an exterior wall of the casing of the gaming machine does not constitute a barrier than the communication such as the infrared ray communication which mounts a sensor which detects infrared rays in a state that the sensor faces outside from the gaming machine. When the infrared ray communication is adopted, it is necessary to mount the sensor which detects the infrared rays on the exterior of the gaming machine and hence, the hole forming becomes necessary on the site whereby not only tools and technique necessary for the mounting operation are required, but also, for example, operations such as the recycling of the gaming machine, the transfer of the gaming machine per se, and the rearrangement of the communication unit in other gaming machine become cumbersome. It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned constitution. In the above-mentioned embodiment, as mentioned previously, before mounting the communication unit in the inside of the gaming machine, the identification information and the address information are preliminarily set in the communication unit from the portable terminal using the infrared ray communication (for example, IrDA or the like).  
      Further, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, with the use of the communication unit which allows the gaming machine and the server to be connected with each other through the communication line, the sales information relevant to the sales amount of the gaming machine is stored, and the sales information is transmitted to the server from the communication unit, whereby it is possible to construct the store management system which is capable of grasping the sales amount in real time by mounting the communication units in respective gaming machines.  
      Further, since the communication unit is provided separately from the gaming machine, it is possible to install the communication unit in the respective gaming machines which are manufactured by the different game makers. In the store where a plurality of gaming machines which are manufactured by different game makers are installed, it is possible to reduce the time and efforts for constructing the system which can grasp the sales amount in real time thus leading to the reduction of cost for constructing the system. Still further, since the communication unit is provided separately from the gaming machine, the store side can arbitrarily select the construction or the non-construction of the store management system depending on the size of the store.  
      Further, it is possible to construct the store management system by installing the communication units in the existing gaming machines and hence, the cost for constructing the system can be reduced. Still further, in introducing new gaming machines by dismantling the gaming machines from the store, it is possible to remove the communication units from the dismantled gaming machines and to mount the communication unit on the newly introduced gaming machines and hence, the cost for running the system can be reduced.  
      By transmitting the identification information and the address information to the communication unit by inputting the identification information and the address information in the portable terminal, it is possible to set the identification information and the address information in the communication unit. Accordingly, it is unnecessary to directly manipulate the communication unit which is mounted in each gaming machine and hence, the time and efforts necessary for constructing the system can be reduced.  
      Further, it is possible to set the identification information and the address information in the communication unit by inputting the identification information and the address information in the portable terminal and by transmitting the identification information and the address information to the communication unit, it is unnecessary to directly manipulate the communication units which are installed in the respective gaming machines whereby time and efforts for constructing the system can be reduced.  
      According to the communication unit of the second embodiment, in the store where a plurality of gaming machines which are manufactured by different game makers are installed, it is possible to reduce the time and efforts for constructing the system which can grasp the sales amount in real time thus leading to the reduction of cost for constructing the system. According to the portable terminal of the present invention, it is possible to set the identification information and the address information without directly manipulating the communication unit mounted in each gaming machine thus reducing the time and efforts for constructing the system. According to the sales management method of the present invention, it is possible to set the identification information and the address information using the portable terminal without directly manipulating the communication unit mounted in each gaming machine thus reducing the time and efforts for constructing the system.  
      The present invention has been explained by referring to the first embodiment and the second embodiment hereinabove. However, only the specific example is described and the present invention is not particularly limited to the above-mentioned constitution and the designs of specific constitutions such as respective means or the like can be modified arbitrarily. Further, with respect to the advantageous effects described in the embodiments of the present invention, only the most favorable advantageous effects produced by the present invention are listed and, the advantageous effects according to the present invention are not limited to the advantageous effects described in the embodiments of the present invention.