Abstract: In an on-line transaction network, in order to transmit to an administration center the custodial positions of commodities in each terminal transaction device and the contents of the commodities kept in custody thereat, the center is provided with a memory device in which a plurality of commodity patterns specifying the corresponding relations between the custodial positions of the commodities and the contents thereof are stored beforehand along with pattern codes affixed to the commodity patterns, and after the commodity has been put in the terminal transaction device in accordance with any of the commodity patterns, the pattern code indicative of the commodity pattern is sent to the center, whereby information for transaction administration is obtained.