EP1288802A1 - System and method for operating information terminals playing commercials - Google Patents

Abstract

The system operates information terminals where a system user provides several information terminals (12,14) for customers. Each terminal has a play-back station (16) for acoustic and/or optical play-back of at least some of the contents of a data carrier product e.g. a compact disk, DVD, computer game, etc for sale. Each terminal also has a scan device (18) which scans a product identification code applied to the data carrier product. A local control (20) calls up the information to be played back to the customer based on the scanned code. A central station (26) remote from the system user has a central data process (30) connectable to the local controls (20). This provides given information for play-back from an archive which contains data about several data carrier products. At the local controls, data for at least one advertising spot is provided, which is played back to the customer in addition to the data carrier product information. Independent claims also cover a method of operating the system.

Description

The invention relates to a system for operating information terminals, at which a system user provides a variety of information terminals for customers. Each information terminal has a playback station for acoustic and / or optical reproduction of at least part of information, on a data medium product intended for purchase, e.g. one CD (compact disc with audio signals), DVD (digital versatile disc with Audio and video information) or a computer game (e.g. a CD-ROM with software, audio and video data). At every information terminal a scanner is attached, one on the disk product attached product identification scans.

Such a system is from DE 299 14 175 U1 by the same applicant known as the "Music Browser". The system user is a local one Data processing system installed. With the help of the scanned product labeling, for example as a barcode on the packaging of a CD is appropriate, are determined by a local database for the customer Information, for example music clips, video clips or Computer game clips accessed by this playback station to the customer emits. This information is the local data processing system transmitted from a remote control center. This headquarters contains in an archive of a large number of such music clips, video clips or Computer game clips, i.e. identical or similar data of a variety of Data carrier products, whereby these data are suitable for the customer good impression and an overview of the respective data carrier product to give. With the help of the control center, the system user can local Update database. Up to several million can be stored in the central archive Pieces of disk products are kept ready from which a large number of system users receive the required information.

In this way, a customer can use a CD or a DVD or CD-ROM Listen to or watch the sample and will be positive for your purchase decision affected. The CD or DVD does not have to be removed from the packaging itself can be taken, but can be via the local data processing system retrieved from the local database. The playback station with the The scanner can be operated by the customer himself. In this way is the trial play of CDs or DVDs in one Automated sales business. The aforementioned DE 299 14 175 U1 is hereby incorporated by reference into the disclosure content of the present Patent application included.

EP 0 969 469 A1 from the same applicant discloses a method for providing known from pieces of music in which the information about a data carrier product, e.g. a CD or DVD, from a control center in online mode transmitted to the local data processing system and local database becomes. A playback station gives at least part of that on the CD or DVD stored information for trial listening and trial viewing. The The aforementioned EP 0 969 469 A1 is hereby incorporated by reference into the disclosure content of the present patent application included.

Furthermore, WO 98/02885 by the same applicant contains an archive in the form of a Database described. In this archive a large number of pieces of Disk products are saved. This publication is also hereby published included in the content of the present patent application.

It is an object of the invention, a system and a method for operating of information terminals, which increases the convenience for the customer and provides additional information and economic to the system user Brings advantages.

This task is solved for a system of the type mentioned at the beginning by that data for at least one commercial is provided for local control at the playback terminal of the information terminal issued to customers in addition to information about the data carrier product becomes. The commercial can contain acoustic and / or visual information contain.

According to the invention, the playback station is used twice, namely on the one hand for trial listening or trial viewing of data carrier products and on the other hand, to inform the customer with the help of commercials. To this The technical systems are used to support the system users of sales and to increase comfort for the customer even better used. In practice it has been shown that the information terminals are in one Sales shop accepted by customers to a high degree and at Trial listening or trial viewing can be used. Such an information terminal is highly frequented and therefore particularly suitable, without annoyance of the customer when contacted directly by sales personnel to inform them further.

The system user is, for example, a trading company, possibly with several branches, which has a close data connection with the system operator who operates at least the head office. Preferably, the data traffic between the local Stseuerung and the central data processing via the IP network (I nternet- P rotocol) is handled via the worldwide Internet.

The required commercials can be in one embodiment of the invention be stored in a local database by the system user. In In this case, the system user himself has to prepare the commercial and to take care of the software management of the commercial.

A preferred variant provides that the central office has a commercial database provides in which a variety of commercials are stored, wherein the system user selects at least one commercial that e.g. the local Database transmitted and output from the playback station. at In this variant, the commercials or the data for this are in the head office processed and managed by software. In this way, different System users benefit from the central commercial database pull. It may also be possible that different system users have the same Get the commercial from the commercial database. The common Administration of commercials for different system users also increased the economy.

A special embodiment of the invention provides that the scanning device, which the product label attached to the data carrier product, for example in the form of a barcode can be statistically evaluated. This evaluation can e.g. in the local Data processing system take place. However, the statistics are preferably in the central data processing system. The system user can then retrieve the statistical data via the central data processing system. Using the statistical data, the system user is informed about the behavior of the Customers informed. For example, the statistics can scan the frequency Play disk products. Because of this frequency with which Customers can access a specific data carrier product, the system user find out very quickly which disk products are special be asked. In this way, he can optimize his inventory and improve profitability. For example, the statistics also a ranking of the various data carrier products offered play. Such a ranking can be per day or per week and / or per information terminal or groups of information terminals are created. The system user can use the ranking to change customer behavior determine and schedule accordingly.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the information terminal has one Product presentation area, which is in the customer's access area the reproduction of the acoustic and / or optical information on the Play station is. In the product presentation area at least one product intended for purchase. The information terminal will operated by the customer himself. For example, when listening to a CD the customer puts on the headphones, sets the desired volume and listen to the music. While listening to the music, he stays at the information terminal stand and let his eyes wander. If now in the access area a product is presented to the customer, this product falls to the customer inevitably. This attention can do that cause him to be more interested in this product. The product must may not necessarily be a disk product, for example other small devices or even models of them are presented. Preferably However, the product presented is a current and particularly one product of great public interest.

It is particularly advantageous if the one reproduced by the reproduction station Advertising spot, which in addition to information about the one selected by the customer Disk product is issued in the product presentation area presented product concerns. This disk product can for example, a piece on the top of a hit list or it can be presented based on other marketing considerations. The The customer will also become a customer through the commercial in the product presentation area located disk product informed and his curiosity is further awakened.

A further development of the system provides that the system user sees that one or more information terminals in the respective product presentation area Media product to be presented depends on the determined selects statistical data. E.g. in the shop of a system user a particular disk product is in little demand while from competition observation he knows that this data carrier product is very popular with the audience, so he can meet the demand in his Increase retail store, such a disk product for the Select product presentation area and thereby increase demand.

Another development can provide that statistical data on selected Information terminals are determined, for example on test information terminals, that have a special market position. In stores or even in certain branches at certain information terminals be available to an audience that is particularly sensitive to new products. By observing this audience and their demand behavior a sales trend can be determined. The statistical data of such test information terminals can then be used to control sales behavior influence broader sections of the public. For example it is conceivable that such information terminals in stores with trend-setting character. In stores with more provincial The character and the corresponding audience then become those Disk products advertised through commercials and product presentations, preferred by the audience with trend-setting behavior have been.

The system can be used particularly advantageously if the system user in several branch offices that are at a distance from each other managed. Every information terminal can be accessed via the central data processing system be controllable. The system user can then go through Access to the central data processing system to record commercials Taxes. In addition, the system user can access the central Data processing system for the presentation of products in the product presentation area Taxes. In this way, a system user can Improve demand in his stores and optimize his market strategy. Several information terminals can also be grouped together become. These information terminals are then inside the group, preferably controlled and evaluated in the same way, preferably via the Internet.

According to one embodiment, the system is characterized in that that the central data processing system comprises an Internet portal, wherein the system user via the Internet using an access procedure that identifies him accesses the data provided by the internet portal. This Data is then the data, e.g. Music clips, video clips or computer game clips, about the information from data carrier products, the commercial data, the statistical and tax data for the presentations of products in the product presentation area.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a method for operating specified by information terminals. The method uses the above System and shows those already related to the system explained advantages and technical effects.

Figur 1

ein Blockschaltbild des lokalen Teils des gesamten Systems zum Betreiben von Informationsterminals,

Figur 2

ein Blockschaltbild der Zentrale,

Figur 3

ein Übersichtsbild in Form eines Blockdiagramms für einen Systemnutzer mit mehreren Fillialen,

Figur 4

einen Teil eines Prototypen eines Informationsterminals mit einem Produktpräsentationsbereich,

Figur 5

die Darstellung einer Internetseite mit einer Statistik über die Gesamtzahl von Kunden-Kontakten für ein Ladengeschäft,

Figur 6

eine Internetseite mit einer Rangliste der von Kunden gewünschten Titel, und

Figur 7

eine Wochenstatistik über die an verschiedenen Informationsterminals abgehörten CDs.

Embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the drawing. It shows

Figure 1

1 shows a block diagram of the local part of the entire system for operating information terminals,

Figure 2

a block diagram of the control center,

Figure 3

an overview in the form of a block diagram for a system user with several branches,

Figure 4

part of a prototype of an information terminal with a product presentation area,

Figure 5

the presentation of a website with statistics on the total number of customer contacts for a retail store,

Figure 6

a website with a ranking of the titles requested by customers, and

Figure 7

weekly statistics on the CDs listened to at various information terminals.

FIG. 1 shows a local part 10 of the system for operating information terminals. The local part 10 contains two information terminals in this example 12 and 14, which are each constructed identically. Just that Information terminal 12 is shown in more detail. Of course, the local Part 10 contains a much larger number of information terminals. The information terminal 12 has a playback station 16 in the form of a Headphones for listening to CDs. In the event that DVDs or computer games the playback station has a video player, e.g. in the form of a personal computer with a monitor, and corresponding other devices. Furthermore, the playback station has adjustment devices (not shown) for adjusting the volume, changing lanes, for forwarding and rewinding and other actuators if necessary, for example, consoles for computer games. Furthermore contains the information terminal 12 a scanning device 18, with the help of which on the packaging of a data carrier product, CD, DVD or of a computer game, scanned barcode scanned as product identification becomes. In the immediate field of view and access of a customer above the playback station 16 with a product presentation area 15 one or more products 17 arranged.

Both information terminals 12 and 14 are connected to a local data processing system 20, which in turn has access to a local database 22. For example, data from music clips or video clips are stored in this local database 22. The local data processing system 22 is connected via an interface 24 to the IP network (I nternet P rotocol) with a control center, whose structure is schematically illustrated in FIG. 2

Figure 2 shows the control center 26 as a block diagram. Via an interface 28 a central data processing system 30 is connected to the IP network. This central data processing system 30 accesses an archive 32 Form a database in which the data of a variety of music clips and Video clips and data about computer games are stored that are for sale Disk products are assigned. The number of saved Pieces can be several million.

The central data processing system 30 also accesses a commercial database 34 to, in which data about commercials is stored. This Commercials are managed by the data processing system 30.

As a further block, an Internet portal 36 is shown, which is software realizes Internet access via the central data processing system 30. A system user uses this Internet portal 36 by going through the worldwide IP network accesses the Internet portal 36, as authorized to access identified and via menu navigation in the Internet portal 36 the necessary for him Fetches and / or sets data and / or triggers control functions.

The overall system comprising parts 10 and 26 operates as follows. A system user logs on via Internet portal 36 and loads its local Database 22 in online mode with information, e.g. Music clip data or Video clip data, from archive 32. These data relate to those in the retail store of the data storage products available and to be sold by the system user. Refreshing the local database 22 with current data from the archive 32 can take place at regular intervals or automatically.

A customer in the system user's sales business attacks from a supply Data carrier products, e.g. CDs or DVDs, a data carrier product and holds the packaging with the label on which a barcode is printed, under scanner 18. Scanner 18 scans the bar code and sends the information to the local data processing system 20. This retrieves the information belonging to this product from the local one Database 22, for example audio data or video data. These dates are fed to the playback station 16. The user can use this Playback station 16, e.g. a headphone that belongs to the disk product and / or have a look.

The system user continues to select one or more via the control center 26 Commercials from the commercial database 34; the data for this will be transferred to the local data processing system 20 and the database 22. While the customer is listening to information about the data carrier product or have a look, these commercials are recorded. At the trial listening and test viewing, the customer is bound to the location of the information terminal 12. His attention is drawn to the product presentation area 15 directed in which the product 17, for example one or more data carrier products to get presented.

When installing for the first time, the local database 22 is loaded with data according to a Inventory list of the relevant shop of the system user supplied. The necessary update (up-date) of the database due to the change in inventory can be done automatically by a customer is one that is not yet in the database of the local database Brings data carrier product to the information terminal 12, 14, which is scanned there becomes. The local data processing system 20 recognizes that the required Data is not available and requests this data from the IP network the head office 26. The center 26 then causes this data from the Central archive 32 sent to the local database 22 via the IP network and be forwarded from there to the information terminal 12, 14.

In another variant of the invention, the local database 22 to be dispensed with. The information terminals 12, 14 are each directly with the Central 26 connected via the IP network and received the necessary Data from the archive 32 or the commercial database 34 directly or via the local data processing system 20. The control function of the local data processing system can also be assigned to the relevant information terminal be, i.e. each information terminal 12, 14 has its own computer. Each information terminal 12, 14 preferably has its own IP address; It can communicate directly with the control center via this IP address. In another variant, several information terminals are for one Group connected that has its own group-specific IP address.

1. Werbemaßnahme "pre-listening"
Es werden Werbeinformationen eingespielt, die auf ein Datenträger-Produkt hinweisen, was noch nicht auf dem Markt erhältlich ist, jedoch bereits vorab zur Probe angehört oder angesehen werden kann. Auf diese Weise wird die Neugier des Kunden für dieses Datenträger-Produkt geweckt.

2. Werbemaßnahme "Rotation"
In Pausenzeiten zwischen dem Abspielen von Informationen über Datenträger-Produkte werden Werbespots automatisch abgespielt. Beispielsweise kann auch in der Pause beim Wechsel von zwei Stücken, z.B. Songs, ein Werbespot plaziert werden. Die Werbung kann auch zusätzlich auf Außenlautsprechern oder Videowänden erfolgen.

3. Werbemaßnahme "Intro"
Bei dieser Werbemaßnahme wird jeweils vor dem Abspielen der Informationen für ein Datenträgerprodukt ein Werbespot als Einführung abgespielt. Zusätzlich kann im Produktpräsentationsbereich ein entsprechendes Produkt zur Verstärkung der Werbemaßnahme präsentiert werden, z.B. eine oder mehrere CDs.

In connection with the commercials to be played, the following advertising measures are preferred:

1. Advertising measure "pre-listening"
Advertising information is brought in that indicates a data carrier product that is not yet available on the market, but can already be listened to or viewed in advance. This arouses the customer's curiosity for this data carrier product.

2. "Rotation" advertising campaign
Commercials are played automatically during pauses between the playback of information about data carrier products. For example, a commercial can also be placed during the break when changing two pieces, eg songs. Advertising can also take place on external speakers or video walls.

3. "Intro" promotion
With this advertising measure, an advertising spot is played as an introduction before the information for a data carrier product is played. In addition, a corresponding product can be presented in the product presentation area to reinforce the advertising measure, for example one or more CDs.

The system user can also select the commercials so that they contain information included that are not related to a disk product stand, which indicate, for example, small electrical appliances or other products. It is also possible that the commercial has general information contains and for example a general advertising message about a company concerns.

A product 17 is preferably used in the product presentation area 15 Data carrier product presented, which is informed in the commercial. After the customer is bound to the location of the information terminal 12, his attention is also drawn to product 17 in the product presentation area 15 directed. Through the information in the commercial about this product advertising for this product will be further strengthened.

As will be explained in more detail below, the system user can use the Internet portal 36 statistical data on the frequency of use of the information terminals 12, 14 received. It can also provide statistical data on receive the frequency of use of certain data carrier products. aid The system user can use this information to present the data carrier product 17 in the product presentation area 15 and so define his Promote sales.

The information terminals 12, 14 can be of benefit to the system user further promotions are used, in particular the scanning device 18 is used. For example, as a disk product an advertising medium, e.g. a postcard that uses a barcode wearing. In the case of the postcard, a barcode is then printed on it. The Customer who this data carrier product to an information terminal 12 or 14 brings and can be sampled there, using previously defined information informed about the playback station 16. The information can e.g. through the archive 32 and / or the commercial database 34 and / or the local database 22 are provided. For example, in a decoy advertising campaign the customer will receive a postcard with a promise to win, e.g. by lot, sent. The customer comes with this Postcard in the shop of the system user; at the information terminal 12 or 14, the barcode on the postcard is scanned and the Customer informed about this data carrier product and provided with commercials.

In FIG. 3, branches 40, 42 are one in a schematic block diagram System user represented. Each branch 40, 42 contains a local data processing system 20, which is connected to the control center 26. The system user can be through an IP terminal 44, which is typically located in one of the branches 40, 42 is located, but also be present at any location can access the Internet portal 36 of the headquarters 26. In this way can a system user via the head office 26 in the various branches 40, 42 control existing information terminals and provide them with information and supply commercials via the headquarters 26. It is also appropriate combine several information terminals into one group, and to provide this group with the same data. The information terminals can also Branch by branch can be controlled separately or together. It is also possible that the various information terminals or Groups of them with appropriate local controls over the IP network are each directly connected to the control center 26.

Figure 4 shows part of a prototype of an information terminal. At the top The area of FIG. 4 shows the product presentation area, in which four CDs are presented as data carrier products. In the left The lower part of the picture shows headphones as a playback station. How is easy to see, the product presentation area is in immediate Proximity and located in the customer's directly visible access area, when he puts the headphones on for listening.

FIG. 5 shows the representation of a website that a system user can access can. On this website, the system user gets statistical Data on customer contacts for the 20th calendar week in a daily overview shown. In the left part of the website you can see that the system user receives a menu guidance.

FIG. 6 shows a website with a ranking list of those played by customers Pieces of music. The system user can use this ranking list Set or change the product presentation and its commercials.

FIG. 7 shows a detailed overview of the scanned data carrier products at various information terminals in a weekly overview.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

local part of the system

12, 14

information terminals

15

Product presentation area

16

Presentation Station

17

product

18

scanning

20

local data processing system

22

local database

24

Interface to the IP network

26

System headquarters

28

Interface to the IP network

30

central data processing system

32

archive

34

Commercial database

36

Internet portal

40, 42

branches

44

IP terminal

Claims (50)

System for operating information terminals,
in which a system user provides a large number of information terminals (12, 14) for customers,
each information terminal has a playback station (16) for acoustic and / or optical playback of at least some of the information stored on a data carrier product (CD, DVD, computer game) intended for purchase,
each information terminal (12, 14) also has a scanning device (18) which scans a product label attached to the data carrier product,
a local controller (20) available to the system user requests, on the basis of the scanned product identifier, the information intended for the customer for reproduction at the reproduction station (16), which information is provided by this reproduction station (16) to the customer,
a center (26) remote from the system user has a central data processing system (30) which can be connected to the local controller (20) and which supplies the information intended for reproduction from an archive (32) which contains data from a large number of data carrier products .
and in which the local control (20) is provided with data for at least one commercial which is output to the customer at the playback station (16) of the information terminal (12, 14) in addition to information about the data carrier product. System according to Claim 1, characterized in that the local control (20) is connected to a local database (22) which stores the data for the information about the data carrier products and commercials. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the local controller (20) is connected to the central data processing system (30) via an IP network and the data are exchanged via this IP network. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the center (26) contains a commercial database (34) in which a large number of commercials are stored, and
that the system user selects at least one commercial that is transmitted to the local controller (20) and output by the playback station (16). System according to Claim 4, characterized in that the system user transmits an advertising spot to the central advertising spot database (34) which is managed by software in the advertising spot database (34). System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data determined by the scanning device (18) are statistically evaluated. System according to Claim 6, characterized in that the statistics show the frequency of scanned data carrier products. System according to Claim 7, characterized in that the statistics indicate a ranking list of the different data carrier products for each time period, preferably one week. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central data processing system (30) contains and processes the statistical data, and that the system user can call up these statistical data via the central data processing system. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the information terminal (12, 14) has a product presentation area (15) which is in the customer's access area when the acoustic and / or optical information is reproduced on the reproduction station (18),
and that at least one product (17) is presented in the product presentation area (15). System according to claim 10, characterized in that at least one data carrier product is presented in the product presentation area (17). System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the commercial reproduced by the reproduction station (18) relates to the product (17) presented in the product presentation area (15). System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the commercial contains information which points to a specific data carrier product. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the commercial contains information which indicates a data medium product which is soon to be offered for sale. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the commercial contains information which is not related to a data carrier product. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system user determines the data carrier product (17) to be presented on one or more information terminals in the respective product presentation area (15) depending on the statistical data. System according to claim 16, characterized in that these statistical data are determined at predetermined information terminals. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system user manages information terminals in a plurality of branches (40, 42) which are at a distance from one another,
that each information terminal can be controlled via the central data processing system (30),
and that the system user controls the recording of commercials by accessing the central data processing system (30). System according to claim 18, characterized in that the system user controls the presentation of products (17) in the product presentation area (15) by accessing the central data processing system (30). System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central data processing system comprises an internet portal (36),
and that the system user accesses the data provided by the Internet portal (36) via the Internet using an access procedure that identifies him. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data carrier product is a CD, a DVD or a computer game. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data carrier product is an advertising medium with a barcode. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that several information terminals are combined in groups, and in that commercials are recorded in groups. System according to claim 23, characterized in that each group has at least one computer-aided control and an IP address under which the data communication with the center is carried out directly. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each information terminal contains a computer-aided control and that each information terminal has an IP address under which it is in direct data connection with the center. Procedure for operating information terminals,
in which a system user provides a large number of information terminals (12, 14) for customers,
each information terminal has a playback station (16) for acoustic and / or optical playback of at least some of the information stored on a data carrier product (CD, DVD, computer game) intended for purchase,
each information terminal (12, 14) also has a scanning device (18) which scans a product label attached to the data carrier product,
a local controller (20) available to the system user requests, on the basis of the scanned product identifier, the information intended for the customer for reproduction at the reproduction station (16), which information is provided by this reproduction station (16) to the customer,
a center (26) remote from the system user has a central data processing system (30) which can be connected to the local controller (20) and which supplies the information intended for reproduction from an archive (32) which contains data from a large number of data carrier products .
and in which the local control (20) is provided with data for at least one commercial which is output to the customer at the playback station (16) of the information terminal (12, 14) in addition to information about the data carrier product. A method according to claim 26, characterized in that the local controller (20) is connected to a local database (22) which stores the data for the information about the data carrier products and commercials. Method according to claim 26 or 27, characterized in that the local controller (20) is connected to the central data processing system (30) via an IP network and the data are exchanged via this IP network. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the center (26) contains a commercial database (34) in which a multiplicity of commercials are stored, and
that the system user selects at least one commercial that is transmitted to the local controller (20) and output by the playback station (16). A method according to claim 29, characterized in that the system user transmits an advertising spot to the central advertising spot database (34) which is managed by software in the advertising spot database (34). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data determined by the scanning device (18) are statistically evaluated. Method according to claim 31, characterized in that the statistics show the frequency of scanned data carrier products. Method according to Claim 32, characterized in that the statistics indicate a ranking list of the different data carrier products for each time period, preferably one week. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central data processing system (30) contains and processes the statistical data, and in that the system user can call up these statistical data via the central data processing system. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the information terminal (12, 14) has a product presentation area (15) which is in the customer's access area when the acoustic and / or optical information is reproduced on the reproduction station (18),
and that at least one product (17) is presented in the product presentation area (15). A method according to claim 35, characterized in that at least one data carrier product is presented in the product presentation area (17). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the commercial reproduced by the playback station (18) relates to the product (17) presented in the product presentation area (15). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the commercial contains information which points to a specific data carrier product. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the commercial contains information which indicates a data medium product which will soon be offered for sale. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the commercial contains information which is not related to a data carrier product. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system user determines the data carrier product (17) to be presented on one or more information terminals in the respective product presentation area (15) depending on the statistical data. A method according to claim 41, characterized in that these statistical data are determined at predetermined information terminals. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system user manages information terminals in a plurality of branches (40, 42) which are spatially separated from one another,
that each information terminal can be controlled via the central data processing system (30),
and that the system user controls the recording of commercials by accessing the central data processing system (30). Method according to claim 43, characterized in that the system user controls the presentation of products (17) in the product presentation area (15) by accessing the central data processing system (30). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central data processing system comprises an internet portal (36),
and that the system user accesses the data provided by the Internet portal (36) via the Internet using an access procedure that identifies him. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data carrier product is a CD, a DVD or a computer game. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data carrier product is an advertising medium with a barcode. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of information terminals are combined in groups and that commercials are recorded in groups. Method according to claim 48, characterized in that each group has at least one computer-aided control and an IP address under which the data communication with the central office is carried out directly. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each information terminal contains a computer-aided control and that each information terminal has an IP address under which it is in direct data connection with the center.

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