This disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for implementing online
sales in an environment on a network, which is provided by a creator,
without putting any load on the creator. A creator-side apparatus
transmits a content that forms merchandise and merchandise information
about its output medium to a support-side apparatus. The support-side
apparatus makes the merchandise information correspond to an address that
indicates a location on the network and transmits the address to the
creator-side apparatus as an address where an order for the merchandise
should be received. The creator-side apparatus sends data containing the
address to the network to which an orderer-side apparatus is connected
such that the orderer-side apparatus accepts connection to the location.
The support-side apparatus executes merchandise order reception
processing when the orderer-side apparatus is connected to the location
and requests an output system to execute output processing based on the
merchandise information.