FR2820855A1 - METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISSEMINATING INFORMATION TO CLIENTS REALIZING PURCHASES IN TRADERS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for distributing advertising data to customers (19) purchasing from traders (1). When a customer makes a purchase, a ticket (4) is issued by the payment terminal (3). The terminal (3) is connected to a communication network (2) and has a unique identifier. A data service centre (6), which knows the unique identifiers of the terminals (3) and the type of business practised by said traders (1), transmits to the terminals (3) advertising data according to the type of business practised by the traders (1). The advertising data depend on parameters such as the time, the amount of the transaction of the type of card used. The terminals (3) print on one of the surfaces of the ticket (4) the advertising information, at the time at which the customer (19) makes his purchases.

Description

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REALISANT DES ACHATS CHEZ DES COMMERCANTS Préambule de la description Domaine concerné, problème posé
La présente invention concerne un procédé, un système et un serveur pour diffuser des informations à des clients réalisant des achats chez des commerçants, notamment des informations à caractère publicitaire. METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISSEMINATING INFORMATION TO CLIENTS

REALIZING PURCHASES IN TRADERS Preamble of the description Domain concerned, problem posed
The present invention relates to a method, a system and a server for disseminating information to customers making purchases from merchants, including information of an advertising nature.

 The advertising spaces used by the communication agencies are static and target a population that is difficult to target, except by the choice of media: the choice of locations, panels (4x3) or magazines (specialized, financial, daily .. .) or the choice of radio / TV and the time slots of the programs.

 The problem that the present invention solves aims to address targeted information, including an advertisement or promotion to a customer who is making a purchase from a merchant. It would indeed be desirable to be able to transmit information at the moment when the customers of a merchant make their purchases, because it would then be possible to target the information according to the subjects of interest.

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 identifiable persons for whom they are intended.

Prior art
It is known to hand over documents to a customer at a point of sale. However, he will quickly forget or put in the trash ... It is also known to carry out a visual communication (for example in a shop window ...) at a point of sale. However, since the customer can not win, he will soon forget it too.

 It is also known, methods and systems for delivering information, including advertising, on the back of a receipt. These receipts, with an advertisement on the back, are given to the customer when he goes shopping in the stores.

However, this advertisement is static. Indeed, it is pre-printed on one of the faces of the rollers which are subsequently used to establish the receipts.

These rolls are ordered in advance by the merchant.

The advertising appearing on the receipts is thus valid two months without it being possible to change it.

In addition, advertising appears on the back of the receipt that the customer receives. It does not attract the eye of the consumer and you have to think about returning the ticket to see it. Finally, a consumer, after checking the receipt, will quickly get rid of it.

 There are dynamic advertising processes and systems, according to the concept of "m-marketing". These methods and systems consist of sending advertising messages via the short messages of the mobile telephony. For such methods or systems to be effective, it is necessary that a large number of consumers are aware of the technology "short messages of the mobile telephony" and accepts to receive messages on their mobile phone.

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Solution Process
The present invention relates to a method for disseminating information to customers making purchases from merchants, including information of an advertising nature. During the purchase, a ticket is issued by a terminal. This is particularly the case when said customers pay their purchases by means of a payment terminal issuing a ticket. The terminal transmitting the ticket is connected to a communication network; he has a unique identifier.

 For example, in the case of an Internet-type communication network, the unique identifier of the terminal is its IP address. For example also, in the case of a Transpac network, the server receives calls from the terminals at a given time. The server identifies the calling terminals using their unique identifier and sends them information related to their identity.

 The method according to the invention comprises the step of seeking, depending on the nature of the trade exerted by said merchants, information likely to concern said customers. The information likely to concern said customers depends on marketing parameters, including parameters such as the time, the amount of the transaction, the geographical location of the merchant, the type of card.

 The method according to the invention further comprises the step of, for an information server center knowing the unique identifiers of said terminals and the nature of the trade exercised by said merchants, to transmit said information to said terminals.

 For example, in the case of merchants who sell music, the information center will transmit information about a concert in Bercy. For example also, in the case of automotive props dealers, the information server center will transmit a

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information about the new Renault and an invitation to come and try it in Paris,
The method according to the invention further comprises, for said terminals, the step of storing said information and then the step of printing on one of the faces of said ticket said information, at the moment when said customer makes his purchases.

 Thanks to this combination of steps, said customer automatically receives information concerning his needs.

 The printing of the information on the front of the ticket is not done well in advance. It is carried out at the time when said customer makes his purchases, but before the printing of the information relating to the purchase transaction, in particular before printing the information relating to the bank transaction.

 The information, in particular the information of an advertising nature, is printed by the terminal, preferably on the front of said ticket, according to parameters such as the number of issues and / or the dates and times limiting the publication of the message.

 Preferably, the method according to the invention is such that, in order to transmit said concerned terminals to said information, it further comprises the step, for said information server center, of constituting a database containing said unique identifiers of said terminals.

Said unique identifiers are listed in said database according to the nature of the trade exerted by said merchants holding said terminals. The method according to the invention further comprises the step, for said information server center, of sending files to said unique identifiers of said terminals, by implementing a communication protocol. The communication protocol depends on the nature of the network, especially in the case of computer communication network of the Internet type the communication protocol may be of the IP protocol type or in the case of Transpac network the protocol is of the X25 type. Said files

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 contain said information. Said files include software enabling said terminals to read and process the information contained in said files.

 Preferably, to search according to the nature of the trade exerted by said merchants said information likely to affect said customers, the method according to the invention further comprises the step for said information server center, to form a database containing information appropriate to customer needs.

The method further comprises the step of selecting, in said database, according to the nature of the trade exercised by said merchants belonging to the same family, the program of appropriate information intended to be transmitted to the terminals of the merchants belonging to said family.

 In the case of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, each customer makes his purchases using a card cooperating with said terminal, in particular each customer pays his purchases from a merchant by means of a payment card cooperating with a terminal of payment. In the case of this variant embodiment, to print on one of the faces of said ticket said information at the time when said customer makes his purchases, the method according to the invention further comprises the step of triggering said printing by said terminal by means of said card, during the implementation of said card in cooperation with said terminal.

 Also preferably, the method according to the invention further comprises the following steps: the step, for said terminal, of memorizing data relating to the purchase operations, the step, for said terminal, of transmitting to the center information server according to said communication protocol said data relating to the purchase operations,

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 the step, for computer processing means associated with said server, of processing said data relating to purchase operations to produce analyzes, in particular statistical analyzes establishing correlations between the purchase operations and the dissemination of said information.

System
The present invention also relates to a system for disseminating information to customers making purchases from merchants, including information of an advertising nature. The system according to the invention comprises a communication network. It also includes terminals issuing tickets, including payment terminals by means of which said customers pay their purchases. Said terminals are connected to said communication network and have a unique identifier. Said system also comprises search means for searching, depending on the nature of the trade exerted by said merchants, information likely to concern said customers.

Said information likely to concern said customers depend in particular on parameters such as the time, the amount of the transaction, the geographical location of the merchant, the type of card. Said system further comprises an information server center, connected to said computer network, knowing said unique identifiers of said terminals and the nature of the trade exerted by said merchants. The information server center comprises first transmission means for transmitting said information to said terminals.

 For example, as already explained during the presentation of the method according to the invention, in the case of merchants who sell music, the information center will transmit information about a concert in Bercy. For example also, in the case of automotive props dealers, the information center

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transmettra une information relative à la nouvelle Renaultm et contenant une invitation pour venir l'essayer à Paris.

will send information about the new Renaultm and an invitation to come and try it in Paris.

 Said system is such that said terminals further comprise: - first storage means for storing said information, - printing means, for printing on one of the faces of said ticket said information, at the time said customer proceeds to his purchases.

 Thanks to this combination of technical features, said customer automatically receives information concerning his needs.

 Preferably, to transmit said concerned information to said terminals, said information center comprises a database containing said unique identifiers of said terminals. Said unique identifiers are listed in said database according to the nature of the trade exerted by said merchants holding said terminals. Said information server center further comprises transmission means for transmitting files to said unique identifiers of said terminals.

Said transmission means implement a communication protocol. They implement in particular a protocol of IP type or X25 type. Said files contain said information. Said files include software enabling said terminals to read and process the information contained in said files.

 Preferably, to search according to the nature of the trade exerted by said merchants said information likely to affect said customers, said information server further comprises means for forming a database containing information appropriate to the needs of customers . Said information server further comprises selection means for selecting, in said database, according to the

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 the nature of the trade exercised by the said merchants belonging to the same family, the program of appropriate information intended to be transmitted to the terminals of the merchants belonging to the same family.

 In the case of an alternative embodiment, the system implements a plurality of cards cooperating with said terminals and by means of which each customer makes purchases from said merchants. These may include loyalty cards or electronic couponing cards. It may also be payment cards cooperating with a payment terminal by means of which said customer pays for his purchases. In the case of this embodiment, to print on one of the faces of said ticket said information at the time when said customer makes his purchases, said terminal comprises triggering means for triggering said printing during the implementation of said card in cooperation with said terminal.

 Preferably, said terminal comprises: second storage means for storing data relating to the purchase operations; second transmission means for transmitting to said information center server, according to said communication protocol, said data relating to the operations; purchase.

 In this case, said information center is associated with computer processing means for processing said data relating to the purchase operations and for producing analyzes, in particular statistical analyzes establishing correlations between the purchase operations and the dissemination of said data. information.

Information server
The present invention also relates to an information server for distributing information to customers making purchases from merchants,

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 in particular advertising information. During said purchase, a ticket is issued by a terminal. For example, this ticket can be a ticket issued by a payment terminal when said customers pay their purchases. The terminal is connected to a communication network and has a unique identifier. Said information server is connected to said computer network. Said information server comprises a database containing the unique identifiers of said terminals and the nature of the trade exerted by said merchants. Said information server further comprises search means for searching, depending on the nature of the trade exercised by said merchants, information likely to affect said customers.

Said information likely to concern said customers depend in particular on parameters such as the time, the amount of the transaction, the geographical location of the merchant, the type of card. Said server further comprises first transmission means for transmitting said information to said terminals.

 For example, as described above, in the case of merchants who sell music, the information center will transmit information about a concert in Bercy. For example also, in the case of automobile accessory dealers, the information server center will transmit information relating to the new Renaultm and containing an invitation to come and try it in Paris.

 Said terminals comprise first storage means for storing said information and printing means for printing on one of the faces of said ticket said information, at the moment when said customer makes his purchases.

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 Thanks to this combination of technical features, the customer automatically receives information about his needs.

 Preferably, in order to transmit the concerned terminals to said information, said information center comprises a database containing the unique identifiers of said terminals. Said unique identifiers are listed in said database according to the nature of the trade exerted by said merchants holding said terminals. Said information server center further comprises transmission means for transmitting files to said unique identifiers of said terminals.

Said transmission means implement a communication protocol, they implement in particular a communication protocol of IP protocol type or X25 type. Said files contain said information. Said files include software enabling said terminals to read and process the information contained in said files.

 Preferably, to search according to the nature of the trade exerted by said merchants said information likely to affect said customers, said information server further comprises means for forming a database containing information appropriate to the needs of customers . Said information server further comprises selection means for selecting, in said database, according to the nature of the trade exercised by said merchants belonging to the same family, the program of appropriate information intended to be transmitted to the terminals of the merchants belonging to that family.

 Preferably, said information server is associated with computer processing means for processing data relating to purchase transactions and for producing analyzes, in particular statistical analyzes establishing correlations between

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 purchase transactions and the dissemination of such information. Said data relating to purchase operations are stored and then transmitted by said terminal, according to said communication protocol.

detailed description
Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description of an alternative embodiment of the invention given by way of indicative and nonlimiting example, and of FIG. 1 which represents a schematic view of the invention. whole of the embodiment variant described.

 We will now describe Figure 1 which shows a schematic overview of the embodiment described. The system is designed to disseminate information to customers making purchases from merchants. More particularly, the system is designed to broadcast advertising information.

 The system comprises: - a communication network 2, - terminals 3 issuing tickets 4.

 In the case of the embodiment variant described, the terminal is a payment terminal 3 by means of which the customers 19 pay their purchases by means of their payment cards 14. Such payment terminals 3 cooperate, in a manner known per se, with payment cards 14 to allow customers to pay their purchases at merchants.

 The following is a brief description of the phases of the payment transaction. At the time of purchase, the customer 19 inserts his payment card 14 into the payment terminal 3 and then types on a keyboard 20 his confidential code. If the payment card and the transaction are accepted, the payment terminal 3 prints on one of the faces of a ticket 4 the information relating to the bank transaction. For this purpose, the payment terminal 3 comprises triggering means

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 15 which are activated, at the time of payment, by the insertion of the payment card 14 in the payment terminal 3. These triggering means in turn actuate the printing means 9 and trigger the printing of the ticket 4 in case of acceptance.

 In other embodiments of the invention, the printing of a ticket can be triggered by other types of cards than payment cards and made by other terminals than payment terminals. In particular, when shopping at a merchant, a customer may be led to use loyalty cards or couponing cards either in a dedicated terminal or in a payment terminal. The terminal transmits for the use of the customer a ticket bearing information related to the functions of this type of card.

 The payment terminals 3 are connected to the communication network 2. The payment terminals 3 have a unique identifier. These unique identifiers make it possible to distinguish the payment terminals 3 from each other and to send them, via a server, specific messages or conversely to receive messages from them by identifying their origin. For example, in the case of an Internet type communication network, the unique identifier of the payment terminal is its IP address. For example also, in the case of a Transpac network m, the information server center 6 (hereinafter described) receives calls from the payment terminals 3 at a given time. The information server center 6 identifies the calling payment terminals 3 by means of their unique identifier and sends them information related to their identity.

 The system according to the invention comprises search means 5 for searching, according to the nature of the trade exercised by the merchants 1, information likely to concern their customers. Information likely to concern the customers of a trader 1

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1 dépendent notamment de paramètres tels que l'heure, le montant d de la transaction, la localisation géographique du commerçant, le type de carte.

1 depend in particular on parameters such as the time, the amount of the transaction, the geographical location of the merchant, the type of card.

 The system according to the invention comprises an information server center 6, connected to said communication network 2. The information server center 6 has the unique identifiers of the payment terminals 3 and knows the nature of the trade exercised by the merchants 1. The information server center 6 comprises first transmission means 7 for transmitting to the payment terminals 3 the information likely to concern the customers. To transmit these payment terminals concerned concerned this information, the first transmission means 7 of the information server center 6 comprise a database 10 containing the unique identifiers of the payment terminals 3. The unique identifiers are listed in the database 10 according to the nature of the commerce exercised by the merchants 1 holding the payment terminals 3. For this purpose also, the first transmission means 7 of the information server center 6 comprise transmission means 11 for transmitting files 12 to destination of the unique identifiers of the payment terminals 3. The transmission means 11 implement a communication protocol that depends on the type of communication network used. In the case of an Internet-type computer communication network, the communication protocol is of the IP type. In fact, the IP communication protocol is not in itself a communication method between two systems. It is necessary to add a "service" above an IP stack. The "service" exploits the protocol to ensure the routing of data between two points. In the case of the present variant embodiment, the "services" implemented for transmitting data between the information server center 6 and the payment terminals 3 are: the SMTP service for sending data from the data terminal payment 3 to the information server center 6 and the POP3 service for the reception, by the

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terminal de paiement 3, des données provenant du centre serveur d'informations 6. Dans le cas d'un réseau de type Transpac m le protocole est du type X25. Le protocole X25 présente l'avantage de pouvoir être mis en oeuvre avec les terminaux de paiement actuellement en service. En effet, la mémoire exiguë de ces terminaux de paiement ne leur permet pas de recevoir le protocole IP.

payment terminal 3, data from the information server center 6. In the case of a Transpac type network m the protocol is of the X25 type. The X25 protocol has the advantage of being able to be implemented with the payment terminals currently in use. Indeed, the small memory of these payment terminals does not allow them to receive the IP protocol.

 The files 12 contain the information likely to concern the customers 19. The files 12 include, in a manner known per se, software allowing the payment terminals 3 to read and process the information contained in said files 12.

 The database 10 of the information server center 6 furthermore contains the information appropriate to the needs of the customers 19. To search, according to the nature of the trade exercised by a given family of merchants 1, the information likely to concern the customers 19 of these, the information server center 6 comprises selection means 13 (including software means).

 These selection means 13 make it possible to select, in said database 10, according to the nature of the trade exercised by the merchants belonging to said family, the program of appropriate information intended to be transmitted to the payment terminals 3 of the merchants 1 belonging to to said family. The combination of the database 10 and the selection means 13 makes it possible to search for the information to be transmitted to the same family of merchants 1 in order to compose a message intended to be printed on the front of the ticket 4. The combination of the database 10 and selection means 13 also makes it possible to define the parameters such as the number of messages to be printed and / or the dates and hours limiting the publication of the messages. These parameters are included in the files 12 ~ transmitted to the payment terminals 3 of the merchants 1 concerned. These

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 parameters are used to control the printing of the messages, by the payment terminals 3, on the front of the tickets 4.

 Thus, for example, it is possible to print some advertising between 14h and 18h and another between 18h and 20h. It is also possible to print an advertisement targeting the customers with high potential of purchase if for example the amount of the transaction is higher than 1000 FRF. It is also possible to target the businesses of an entire city, or related to a single activity but at the national level, or even within the same store chain (especially in the case of a franchise).

Finally, it is possible to broadcast a different advertisement to holders of a Visa or American Express 0 or Cofinoga 0 card.

 The payment terminals 3 furthermore comprise first storage means 8 for storing the information they receive from the information server center. The payment terminals 3 also include printing means 9 for printing on the front of the faces of said ticket 4 a message containing said information, at the moment when said customer makes his purchases. The message containing the targeted information is printed before printing the information relating to the purchase transaction, in particular before printing the information relating to the bank transaction. This printing is triggered, as has been described above, by the insertion of the payment card 15 into the payment terminal 3.

 The customers targeted by the system thus receive, automatically, at the same time as the bank ticket 4 information, including an advertising message, concerning their needs. For example, merchants who sell music will be able to print a message containing information about a concert in Bercy. For example, car accessory dealers will also be able to print a message containing information about the new car

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Renaultw et contenant une invitation pour venir l'essayer à Paris.

Renaultw and containing an invitation to come and try it in Paris.

 The payment terminal 3 furthermore comprises second storage means 16 for storing data relating to the purchase operations as well as second transmission means 17 for transmitting to the information server center 6, according to the same communication protocol as that previously described, data relating to purchase transactions. The information server center 6 is associated with computer processing means 18 for processing said data relating to purchase transactions and for producing analyzes, in particular statistical analyzes establishing correlations between the purchase operations and the dissemination of said information. . These statistics or measures can be used by advertisers. For example, analyzes of the following type become available: out of 120 000 advertisements, 20% were for purchases over FRF 300, 40% when purchases amounted to less than 100 FRF, 50% were for purchases made with Mastercard 0, 30% were for purchases made in Paris center, 70% were for purchases made in the Province.

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NOMENCLATURE TICKET ADVERTISING

<Tb>
<tb> Group <SEP> nominal <SEP> Ref. <SEP> Num.
<Tb>

Keyboard <SEP> 20
<tb> client <SEP> 19
<tb> means <SEP> of <SEP> treatment <SEP> 18
<tb> IT
<tb> seconds <SEP> means <SEP> of <SEP> transmission <SEP> 17
<tb> seconds <SEP> means <SEP> of <SEP> storage <SEP> 16
<tb> means <SEP> of <SEP> trigger <SEP> 15
<tb> cards <SEP> 14
<tb> means <SEP> of <SEP> selection <SEP> 13
<tb> files <SEP> 12
<tb> means <SEP> of emission <SEP> 11
<tb> base <SEP> of <SEP> data <SEP> 10
<tb> means <SEP> of printing <SEP> 9
<tb> first <SEP> means <SEP> of <SEP> storage <SEP> 8
<tb> first <SEP> means <SEP> of <SEP> transmission <SEP> 7
<tb> center <SEP> server <SEP> of information <SEP> 6
<tb> means <SEP> of <SEP> search <SEP> 5
<tb> tickets <SEP> 4
<tb> terminals <SEP> 3
<tb> network <SEP> of <SEP> communication <SEP> 2
<tb> traders <SEP> 1
<Tb>

Claims (9)

1. System for disseminating information to customers making purchases from merchants (1), including information of an advertising nature; said system comprising: - a communication network (2), - terminals (3) issuing tickets (4), including payment terminals by means of which said customers pay their purchases; said terminals (3) being connected to said communication network (2) and having a unique identifier, said system further comprising: - search means (5) for searching, depending on the nature of the trade exerted by said merchants (1 ), information likely to concern said customers, said information likely to affect said customers depending in particular on parameters such as the time, the amount of the transaction, the location

 the card type said system further comprising: - an information server center (6), connected to said computer network, knowing said unique identifiers of said terminals (3) and the nature of the trade exerted by said merchants (1). ); said information center (6) having first transmission means (7) for transmitting said information to said terminals (3); said system being such that said terminals (3) further comprise: first storage means (8) for storing said information; - printing means (9) for printing on one side of said ticket (4) said information, at the moment when said customer makes his purchases.  2. System according to claim 1; said system being such that, to transmit terminal audits (3) concerned <Desc / Clms Page number 19>  said information, said information center (6) comprises: a database (10) containing said unique identifiers of said terminals (3); said unique identifiers being listed in said database (10) according to the nature of the trade exerted by said merchants (1) holding said terminals (3); said information center (6) further comprising: - transmission means (11) for transmitting files (12) to said unique identifiers of said terminals (3), by implementing a communication protocol, in particular by implementing a communication protocol of the IP protocol type or of the X25 type; said files (12) containing said information; said files (12) comprising software enabling said terminals (3) to read and process the information contained in said files (12).  3. System according to any one of claims 1 or 2; said system being such that, to search according to the nature of the trade exerted by said traders (1) said information likely to concern said customers, said information server further comprises: - means for building a database (10) containing information appropriate to the needs of the customers, - selection means (13) for selecting, in said database (10), according to the nature of the trade exerted by said traders (1) belonging to the same family, the program appropriate information to be transmitted to the terminals (3) traders (1) belonging to said family.  4. System according to any one of claims 1 to 3; said system further comprising a plurality of cards <Desc / Clms Page number 20>  (14) cooperating with said terminals (3) and by means of which each customer makes purchases from said merchants (1), including a payment card cooperating with a payment terminal by means of which said customer pays his purchases; said system being such that, to print on one of the faces of said ticket (4) said information at the moment when said customer makes his purchases, said terminal (3) comprises triggering means (15) for triggering said printing when implementing said card (14) in cooperation with said terminal (3).  5. System according to any one of claims 2 to 4; said system being such that said terminal (3) comprises: second storage means (16) for storing data relating to the purchase operations,

 second transmission means (17) for transmitting to said information server center (6), according to said communication protocol, said data relating to the purchase operations; said system further being such that said information center (6) is associated with computer processing means (18) for processing said data relating to the purchasing operations and for producing analyzes, including statistical analyzes establishing correlations between the purchase transactions and the dissemination of said information.  6. Information server for disseminating information to customers making purchases from merchants (1), including advertising information; during said purchase, a ticket (4) being issued by a terminal (3), in particular when said customers pay their purchases by means of a payment terminal issuing a ticket; said terminal (3) being connected to a communication network (2) and having a unique identifier; said information server being connected to said computer network said server comprising: <Desc / Clms Page number 21>  said server further comprising: first transmission means (7) for transmitting said information to said terminals (3); said terminals (3) comprising first storage means (8) for storing said information and printing means (9) for printing on one of the faces of said ticket (4) said information, at the moment said customer proceeds to his purchases.

 a database (10) containing the unique identifiers of said terminals (3) and the nature of the trade exerted by said merchants (1); search means (5) for searching, according to the nature of the trade exercised by said merchants (1), information likely to concern said customers, said information likely to affect said customers depending in particular on parameters such as time , the amount of the transaction, the geographical location of the merchant, the type of card  7. Information server according to claim 6, said information server being such that, for transmitting to said terminal auditors (3) said information, said information center (6) comprises: a database (10) containing the unique identifiers of said terminals (3); said unique identifiers being listed in said database (10) according to the nature of the trade exerted by said merchants (1) holding said terminals; said information center (6) further comprising: - transmission means (11) for transmitting files (12) to said unique identifiers of said terminals (3), by implementing a communication protocol, in particular by implementing a communication protocol of the IP protocol type or of the X25 type; <Desc / Clms Page number 22>  said files (12) containing said information; said files (12) comprising software enabling said terminals (3) to read and process the information contained in said files (12).  An information server according to any one of claims 6 or 7; said information server being such that, to search according to the nature of the trade exerted by said traders (1) said information likely to concern said customers, said information server further comprises: - means to form a database (10) containing information appropriate to the needs of the customers, - selection means (13) for selecting, in said database (10), according to the nature of the trade exerted by said traders (1) belonging to to the same family, the program of appropriate information to be transmitted to the terminals (3) merchants (1) belonging to said family.  9. Information server according to any one of claims 6 to 8; said information server (6) being associated with computer processing means (18) for processing data relating to the purchasing operations and for producing analyzes, including statistical analyzes establishing correlations between the purchase transactions and the dissemination of said information; said data relating to purchase operations having been stored (16) and then transmitted (17) by said terminal (3), according to said communication protocol.