FR3018135A1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONNECTING USERS - Google Patents

Abstract

System and method for connecting users. The invention relates to a system for connecting users each having a terminal, said system being characterized in that it comprises a plurality of identifiers which are each interpretable by each of the terminals, and which are divided into several groups of identifiers, said system also comprising a plurality of user-to-user interfaces, each of said interfaces being associated with one of said groups of identifiers, the system being designed so that the interpretation of one identifiers by one of the users using the terminal at his disposal triggers a user access authorization process at the linking interface with which the group of identifiers to which the user belongs is associated identifier. Matching systems.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of connecting people, in particular by means of networking networks of the social network or dating site genre, as well as the field of networking. marketing tools, intended to promote the sale of articles to the general public. The invention relates more precisely to a system for connecting users who each have a terminal. The invention also relates to a method for connecting users each having a terminal.

There are known virtual platforms, to which users can generally connect remotely, for example via the Internet, via terminals they have, such as computer, tablet or smartphone (that is to say "smartphone"), which allow said users to interact with said virtual platforms.

The virtual platform is accessible to users as soon as they have entered a registration form (and possibly paid registration fees) that allows the virtual platform to have a certain amount of information on each user. A first part of this information is intended to enable the virtual platform to authenticate the user during his future connections to said platform and to differentiate him from other users, and includes data such as an email address, a phone number, a unique nickname and / or password. Each user thus has a connection account to the platform, and must be able to provide the authentication information to connect to said platform. A second part of this data is intended to allow the establishment of a profile of the user, such as, for example, the age, gender, professional situation or hobbies of the user.

Generally, within the virtual platform, each user has at least one network of contacts grouping together all the users with whom the user is in a virtual relationship. To add new users to their contact list, the user usually uses a virtual platform connection interface. Within this interface, the user can search for a known user with information from the profile of the user. Alternatively, the user can use the interface to search for users who are unknown to him, but whose profile has points in common with his own profile, and presents, for example, favorite hobbies identical to his own. In this case, the interface proposes to the user to put him in virtual relation with randomly selected users among users whose profile has points in common with that of said user. The user therefore immediately has access to the entire community of users whose profile has points in common with his own. The virtual platform is generally designed to generate a financial profit for the operator (s) of said platform. For this, some platforms require users to pay a fee, or registration fee. Other platforms are nonetheless free for users, and are for example financed, in return, by advertising addressed to said users. The number of users of the platform and the time that each of these users spend interacting with it makes it possible to generate profit. In addition, the user interface of the platform allows the creation of virtual communities formed by users with common tastes or ideas. Such communities can be easily identified by the operator of the platform, and correspond to potential markets, so that said operator can sell his knowledge of such communities to third parties, and sell advertising space addressed to such communities. On the other hand, the communities are likely to generate fashion effects themselves, or to communicate around a subject in such a way as to remarkably increase the popularity of the subject (for example by creating a "buzz"). When the subject concerns a marketable product, the sales of this product are likely to increase significantly, or on the contrary a decrease.

However, the technique does not seem to make it possible to generate a profit from the very creation of the communities, that is to say from the operation of the user interface, other than by paying directly users to put them in contact with other users. However, for many virtual platforms, users are not always inclined to pay such a payment each time they are connected to another user. In addition, performing a financial transaction at each connection can be tedious for users. Thus, such linking conditions are likely to affect the influx of the platform, the formation of its user communities, and therefore its financial success. Moreover, while such platforms may make it possible to increase the sales of a consumer product to the users of said platform, in particular by means of advertising messages broadcast on the platform, they do not seem to be of a nature to make it possible to directly increase sales of a product to people who do not use the platform. The objects assigned to the present invention therefore aim to remedy the various drawbacks enumerated above and to propose a new system and a new connection method making it possible to generate a high profit from the linking of people, without this can not hinder the success of this relationship. Another object of the invention is to propose a new system and a new method of linking to increase the sales of a consumer product to the general public. Another object of the invention is to propose a new system and a new method of connection compatible with the existing means, versatile, and easy to implement. Another object of the invention is to propose a new system and a new method of linking to generate a high profit.

Another object of the invention is to propose a new system and a new linking method enabling an individual to effectively relate to other persons. Another object of the invention is to propose a new system and a new method of relating a particularly easy use. The objects assigned to the invention are achieved by means of a system for connecting users each having a terminal, said system being characterized in that it comprises a plurality of identifiers which are each interpretable. each of the terminals, and which are divided into several groups of identifiers, said system also comprising a plurality of user interface interfaces, each of said interfaces being associated with one of said groups of identifiers, the system being designed so that the interpretation of one of the identifiers by one of the users by means of the terminal at his disposal triggers a process of authorization of the user's access to the connection interface to which is associated group of identifiers including the identifier. The objects assigned to the invention are also achieved by means of a method of connecting users each having a terminal, said method being characterized in that identifiers are each interpretable by each of the terminals and are divided into several groups of identifiers, each being associated with a user-to-user interface, said method comprising the following steps: one of the users interprets one of the identifiers using the terminal at his disposal; interpretation of the identifier by the terminal available to the user triggers a user authorization process to access the linking interface with which the group of identifiers to which the identifier belongs is associated interpreter. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent on reading the description which follows.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a system for connecting users who each have a terminal, enabling at least two users of the system to be put in contact, that is to say to a user. have the opportunity, if they wish, to communicate with each other, or to have access to information from each other through the matching system. For the purposes of the invention, the term "user" is understood to mean a person, preferably a physical person, who may also be a legal person, who takes part in the operation of the connection system by participating in and / or operating it. . For the purposes of the invention, the term "terminal" is intended to mean any portable or transportable device, preferably electronic and powered for example by a battery-type mobile energy source, with which the user can interact to use the placing system. Related. For this purpose, the linking system advantageously comprises user profiles which are each associated with one of the users and which each comprise characteristics that can be parameterized by the associated user. The linking system preferably includes a management center in which the user profiles are stored and managed. Alternatively, the terminals advantageously manage the user profiles. Thus, the central management unit and / or the terminals preferentially list each user of the linking system, the users having previously registered therewith. Advantageously, each user of the linking system can only use the system if he has registered, and has created and has a user profile associated with his person. The management center and / or terminals advantageously use means of user authentication to ensure the identity of users, 25 so as to substantially avoid usurpation of user profiles by third parties. Preferably, the terminals themselves manage the user profiles independently of the management center. In this case, the user profiles are simply included in the terminals, which makes the presence of the management unit optional, the terminals being then designed to exchange and manage the user profile data between them. Advantageously, the user profiles are both managed, in a collaborative manner, by the management center and by the terminals. The user profile is advantageously a virtual form comprising user data in the form of parameterizable characteristics, which the latter has for example provided of its own fact or that the management unit has recovered from a third source. As a non-limitative example, the configurable characteristics are the pseudonym, the name, the age, the sex, the physical address, the e-mail address, the professional situation, the favorite activities, the favorite conversation topics , or the tastes of the user. Preferably, the management center is designed so that the user can add, modify or delete the parameterizable characteristics of his profile when he wishes. The management center is preferably a server that runs a virtual platform with which users can interact remotely, for example via the Internet, in order to perform the configuration of their profile. Advantageously, users can interact with the management center through the terminals they have. Preferably, the terminals comprise means of remote communication with the management unit, for example an internet connection, preferably wireless, the management unit therefore comprising a server for managing the communication between the terminals and said central unit. Management. The terminals advantageously comprise a proximity communication means enabling them to communicate directly with each other, for example by a DLNA, Bluetooth or NFC proximity connection, and to directly manage the information flows. According to such a configuration, the connection system may possibly be without a management center, for example, where the terminals can manage by themselves the connection interfaces, the profiles, and the control processes. 'access authorization. According to the invention, the system comprises a plurality of identifiers which are each interpretable by each of the terminals. In addition to their preferred function of communication with the management center, the terminals are thus designed to be able to decode, interpret, recognize, decipher the identifiers.

The identifiers are physically distinct from one another, and each identifier forms a material element that can be interpreted, ie recognized, or identified through each of the terminals. The identifier comprises for this purpose a code, for example unique, to identify it in any form whatsoever. The identifier may for example be an electronic chip transmitting a code interpretable by the terminals. Alternatively, each identifier is preferably a label, an electronic tag and / or printed, or a simple pattern, or a string of characters, a key, which is affixed to an object by being engraved, stamped, printed or otherwise on said object. Preferably, to interpret one of the identifiers, the user has the identifier read by the terminal at his disposal, for example by scanning said identifier with said terminal, so that the latter retrieves the code and / or data of the identifier, to identify the latter. Each identifier is thus advantageously directly readable by each of the terminals. Each identifier preferably comprises a visual code interpretable by each of the terminals, so that the terminal can interpret the visual code by means of a reading means, for example an optical or laser means, for capturing an image. , a shape or colors of the visual code in order to recognize it, or to decipher a code that it symbolizes. Preferably, each visual code is a two-dimensional bar code, and forms a two-color pattern, for example black and white, distributed in two directions of space, forming a binary code interpretable by an optical reading means of the terminal. Alternatively, the visual code may be preferentially formed by a one-dimensional bar code. Alternatively, to interpret one of the identifiers, the user advantageously informs the identifier, or the visual code of the identifier, in the terminal, for example manually or vocally. In this case, the visual code is designed to be directly readable by the user and then, for example, as a string of characters, or a sequence of numbers, the key or code type, recopiable by the user in his terminal. In any case, each terminal thus advantageously comprises means for reading the identifiers, and / or means for inputting the identifier by the user, which is designed to generate an interpreted information, the interpreted information translating a characteristic to identify the interpreted identifier.

Preferably, each identifier is attached to a consumer product whose users are likely to have available, for example by obtaining the property at the end of a purchase operation of said consumer product. The identifiers are thus preferentially as a label stuck on the consumer product, or as a printed inscription on it, or as a chip embedded on it. Consumer products are preferably articles of commerce, which can be found, for example, on the shelves of a supermarket, of any store, or of a shop specialized in one or more types of product, for example. example a record store or a seller of electronic devices. Thus the consumer products preferably comprise a packaging containing a commercial object, the identifier being either affixed to said packaging, or included within the same commercial object. The consumer products are preferably provided to be obtained by the user at the conclusion of a purchase transaction involving a financial transaction, so that said user is required to spend a sum of money to obtain the product of consumption, and by extension the identifier it contains. Preferably, each identifier is designed to be interpretable by the terminals only when the consumer product to which it is attached is available to one of the users. Thus, the user is advantageously compelled to purchase or purchase the consumer product to have access to the identifier, the latter being undetectable or unreadable by the terminal or by the user before that. For this purpose, for example, the identifier can thus be hidden inside the package, or be initially inactive and activated once the transaction has been completed (especially in the case where the identifier is an electronic chip), or still be initially masked, and discovered at the end of a purchase operation (in the case where the identifier includes the visual code allowing the reading by the terminal or by the user). In any case, the identifiers are thus preferentially disseminated, so that users are led to search for them, and to find them fortuitously or not, for example during their daily lives or at a meeting. provided for this purpose, access to such a meeting being optionally paid for users. According to such a design, the sales of consumer products provided with identifiers are advantageously capable of being improved or stimulated. Indeed, it is preferable to generate advertising around the concept of the association of the consumer product with the identifier of the linking system in order to stimulate the sale of such products. In addition, the user may have to purchase priority consumer products with an identifier for a consumer product equivalent that is not provided with an identifier. Conversely, a natural person not using the linking system is preferably encouraged to become a user of said system when it buys a consumer product having one of the identifiers, the consumer product advantageously also including an advertising mark, for example playful, likely to generate such an incentive. According to an important characteristic of the invention, the identifiers are divided into several groups of identifiers. The interpretation of the identifier by the terminal makes it possible for the linking system to know which group of identifiers the identifier in question belongs to. For this purpose, the linking system preferably comprises a database listing the identifiers, the database preferably being controlled by the management center, and being designed to make it possible to link each identifier to the group of identifiers. identifiers of which each identifier is part. Advantageously, the visual codes of the identifiers, or the identifiers, of the same group of identifiers are identical, or comprise at least one common point, or are complementary, which makes it easier to classify the identifiers into groups of identifiers. identifiers, and recognition of the identifier group of the interpreted identifier. Each terminal preferably comprises an application executable by the terminal 5 for transmitting the interpreted information to the management center via the remote communication means, and / or to the terminals located nearby via the proximity communication means. The interpreted information is thus advantageously transmitted, for example in the form of digital data, to the management center for it to decode and interpret it so as to know the group of identifiers associated with the interpreted identifier. Alternatively, the terminals can be designed to identify and decode by themselves the identifiers to the reading or the input of the latter, and to indicate directly to the management center which group of identifiers belongs to the interpreted identifier. Alternatively, the terminals may be designed to interpret and decode for themselves the identifiers on reading the latter, and to indicate directly to the terminals in the vicinity to which group of identifiers the interpreted identifier belongs. The application is for example executed on the terminal by means of a means for executing said terminal preferably formed by an electronic device comprising a processor, for example a computer embedded in the terminal, which makes it possible to operate a terminal. computer program, and in this case the application. The user can advantageously interact with the application, the terminal comprising an interaction means formed for example by a keyboard and a screen, or alternatively a touch screen. Preferably, the terminals are smartphones (i.e. smart phones, so-called "smartphones") or electronic tablets, for example touch pads, which are available to users, on which the application is installed. Thus, it is advantageously not necessary for the user to obtain specific hardware to use the matching system. Indeed, the user can preferentially deploy the application on a terminal that he already has, which allows him to use the linking system using a terminal initially designed for generic use. The application can advantageously be deployed on the terminal by the user after a prior download of said application on the terminal, or after being copied into the terminal from an external support readable by the terminal. To use the linking system, each user can simply install the corresponding application on its terminal, which is for example a mobile phone, a touch pad, a computer or other. The user may preferentially have installed the application on several terminals in his possession. Preferably, the user "disposes" of the terminal within the meaning of the invention, even if he is not the legal owner of said terminal, since he has authenticated to the application. For example, from now on, a user can advantageously be lent a terminal, or rent it and use the connection system as soon as he has authenticated himself on said terminal, and in particular with the application executed by the terminal. The authentication may for example comprise, in a conventional manner, the entry of a password and an identifier by the user, which are only known to the latter, or include a facial recognition of said user. application, or the management center is then preferably responsible for validating or invalidating the authentication of the user to enable him, or on the contrary forbid him, to use the linking system. The reading means is advantageously formed by a means of shooting the terminal or by a non-contact electronic sensor of the terminal, which are controlled by the application, the input means being formed by a keyboard or a touch screen of the controlled terminal by the application. Since many devices, such as a computer or electronic tablet, are marketed by including an on-board digital camera type of shooting device, or a non-contact electronic sensor, the application can advantageously be directly deployed on one side. two. Thus, most of the time, it is preferably not necessary for the user to equip his terminal, which is generic, with initially separated reading means, most of the generic terminals initially integrating the reading means. The input means is preferentially integrated within the application, the user can perform the input using the usual means of input of his terminal that are the keyboard or the touch screen of the latter.

The application installed on the terminal therefore advantageously takes partial or total control of the means of shooting and / or the electronic sensor without contact, and / or the input means, so that the terminal, initially versatile and function generic, to be able to read specially the identifiers. According to the invention, the system also comprises a plurality of user interface interfaces. Interfaces are interaction menus, preferably virtual, with which users can interact. The user connection interface makes it possible to bring a first user to be placed in virtual contact with at least one second of the users, so that the first and second users ultimately belong to a virtual network. common linkage system. The linking preferably comprises an exchange of data between the first and the second user, for example data from their respective profiles, such as the parameterizable characteristics of said profiles. The first user is thus likely to be informed about the profile of the second user, and vice versa. The connection preferably also comprises a communication between the first user and the second user, the connection interface comprising for example a communication device allowing the first user to contact the second user and vice versa by text message , voice, video or any other means. The connection interface is preferably designed so that the first user can decide to allow, or prohibit, its connection with the second user, according to different levels: the first user can decide for example which configurable characteristics of his profile he wishes to share, and whether he agrees to communicate with the second user or not. The operating interface thus advantageously makes it possible, after a process of mutual acceptance of linking a first user with a second user, to put them in relation. The interfaces are preferably controlled by the management center, and / or by the application loaded on the terminals. Users can preferentially interact with said interfaces directly from the terminals they have, or from a third station connected remotely to the management center and equipped with the application or a suitable program allowing both the communication between the central management and the third-party post, as well as the interaction of the third-party post and the management center with the user.

According to the invention, each of said interfaces is associated with one of said groups of identifiers. Each interface of the linking system is thus linked to the existence of one of the groups of identifiers. Thus, the database listing the identifiers advantageously associates each identifier with both the group of identifiers to which it belongs and the corresponding linking interface.

The system is designed, according to the invention, so that the interpretation of one of the identifiers by one of the users by means of the terminal at his disposal triggers a process of authorization of access of the user to the user. linking interface with which is associated the group of identifiers to which the identifier belongs. Thus, according to the invention, the users initially do not have access to the connection interfaces, so that two of the users can be put in relation only when they have each interpreted, using the terminal which they respectively, one of the identifiers belonging to the same group of identifiers. Consequently, a plurality of the users having interpreted the identifiers of the same group of identifiers are brought to access the interface of connection corresponding to the group of interpreted identifiers. Particularly advantageously, in order to be put in contact with other users, each user must find, and even buy, one of the consumer products comprising one of the identifiers, which is likely to incite the user. user to acquire the consumer product concerned. Such acquisitions can then advantageously contribute at least to finance the operation of the linking system, if agreements are made between sellers of consumer products and an operator of the linking system. In addition, the identifiers being advantageously disseminated so that users are led to search for them, and to find them accidentally or not, allows to generate a hazard leading users to be put in relation with other users, preferably they do not initially know, quite randomly.

Preferably, the linking system comprises the commercial products on each of which is affixed at least one of the identifiers. The access of one of the users to the connection interface is done at the end of an authorization process, which advantageously makes it possible to verify that the user, and in particular his parameterizable characteristics, corresponds to predetermined desired characteristics associated with the linking interface. For example, a connection interface may be intended only for users having entered in their profile a parameterizable characteristic corresponding to a given favorite activity, such as tennis, or music. Preferably, the authorization process also comprises an acceptance step, on the part of the user, to access the linking interface. Thus, the user can advantageously choose whether or not he wishes to access the connection interface, insofar as such access is likely to lead to a disclosure of his configurable characteristics to one or more other (s) user (s), an entry in communication with one or more other user (s), and / or a connection with one or more other user (s) as defined above. Preferably, two of the users who have been authorized to access one of the connection interfaces have the possibility of being connected to each other if their respective profile comprises a predetermined number of identical configurable characteristics. and / or complementary, and / or compatible, or if a predetermined number of parameterizable characteristics of their profile has not been parameterized. Thus, once the authorization process has been carried out, the users are advantageously likely within the same interface to be put in relation or not depending on their profile. Only users whose profile has enough common points can therefore preferentially be put in relation with each other. Also, preferably, only users whose profile has complementarities can then be put in relation. By "complementary and / or compatible characteristics" will be understood, for example, characteristics which, while being different, are capable of being relative to one another, of forming a pair, or of being combined. Indeed, characteristics of a user are likely to interest another user, for example by the fact that one of the users is a man, and another user is a woman, these characteristics then being complementary and not identical. Preferably, users whose profile has not been completed or has not been completed can also be connected. Preferably, the number of identical and / or complementary and / or compatible parameterizable characteristics of two users makes it possible to establish a compatibility score. The compatibility score may, for example, make it possible to adjust a probability that two users are related. Preferably, at least part of the plurality of identifiers comprises at least one visual information that is readable and comprehensible to the users, such as an inscription or an interpretation that can be interpreted by sight. The visual information may for example inform the user on the desired characteristics of the connection interface corresponding to said identifier, indicating by a parameterizable characteristic required or preferential of said interface. As a non-limitative example, the visual information can indicate whether the identifier is addressed to men, women, golf or cooking enthusiasts, etc. Advantageously, the visual information informs the user of the total number of identifiers that exists in the associated group of identifiers, or the geographical distribution of the group of identifiers, the identifiers of the same group may for example be scattered only in one region, one country, or worldwide. In this way, before performing an interpretation of the identifier using its terminal, the user preferentially has the opportunity to learn about the type of connection interface to which the identifier will allow it access. Preferably, the visual information may also be designed to induce the user to collect the identifiers that belong for example to a given group of identifiers. For example, the user can be encouraged, in a fun way, to want to collect all the identifiers whose visual information describes one of its configurable characteristics, and therefore to want to buy or buy consumer products comprising these particular identifiers. Such a design thus makes it possible to advantageously improve the sales of these consumer products.

Alternatively, all or part of the identifiers advantageously do not include user-readable information, so that the latter can not determine which interface for matching the identifiers correspond. Such a design can make it possible to improve the risk of linking users, or to improve the sale of consumer products, insofar as the user is led to randomly obtain products with corresponding identifiers. to corresponding desired characteristics and products with identifiers corresponding to desired characteristics which do not correspond to it.

Advantageously, the linking system and / or the management center and / or the application forms or contributes to forming a social network or a dating site. Preferably, the linking system also makes it possible to relate users according to the following conditions: said users have interpreted identifiers of the same group of identifiers using their respective terminals, and their respective terminals are located less than a predetermined distance from each other, for example at a distance of less than 10 m, accidentally or not, and, optionally, the users have entered common configurable characteristics, and / or complementary eVou compatible in their respective profile. When these conditions are met, the terminals of said users emit a signal, for example sound, vibratory, in the form of a message, or using a physical location interface of the other user, to indicate to said users that these conditions have been fulfilled, so as to bring the said concerned users into contact. One of the terminals advantageously detects the proximity of another terminal using a Bluetooth connection, DLNA, NFC or other.

Advantageously, the identifiers of at least one of the groups of identifiers make it possible for any user who has interpreted one of them with the help of his terminal, that the access authorization process of the user at the corresponding linking interface is simplified and facilitated. Preferably, one of the users having interpreted such an identifier can thus access a community of users or a discussion forum, for example a forum of help or mutual technical assistance, which deals with the use of the system. of connection. The invention relates, according to a second aspect, to a method of connecting users each having a terminal. In this method, identifiers are each interpretable by each of the terminals and are divided into several groups of identifiers, each being associated with a user interface, said method comprising the following steps - one of the user interprets one of the identifiers by means of the terminal at his disposal, - the interpretation of the identifier by the terminal available to the user triggers a process for authorizing the user to access the setting interface in relation to which is associated the group of identifiers including the interpreted identifier. The process according to the invention is preferably carried out using the linking system described above, so that the characteristics thus described can be applied mutatis mutandis to the process according to the invention.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS1 - System for connecting users each having a terminal, said system being characterized in that it comprises a plurality of identifiers which each comprise a visual code interpretable by each of the terminals, and which are divided into several groups of identifiers, said system also comprising a plurality of user-to-user interfaces, each of said interfaces being associated with one of said groups of identifiers, the system being designed so that the interpretation of one identifiers by one of the users using the terminal at his disposal triggers a user access authorization process at the linking interface with which the group of identifiers to which the user belongs is associated identifier. 2 - linking system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the visual codes of the identifiers of the same group of identifiers are identical, or comprise at least one common point, or are complementary. 3 - linking system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a part of the plurality of identifiers comprises at least one visual information understandable by the users. 4 linking system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each identifier is attached to a consumer product which users are likely to have available, for example by obtaining the property at the end of a purchase operation of said consumer product. 5 - Connecting system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each identifier is designed to be interpretable by the terminals only when the consumer product to which it is attached is available to one of the users.6 - Linking system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises user profiles which are each associated with one of the users and which each comprise characteristics configurable by the associated user. 7 - linking system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a management center including user profiles, and / or that the terminals manage the user profiles. 8 - Linking system according to any one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that two of the users who have been authorized to access one of the connection interfaces have the possibility to be put in relation to each other if their respective profile comprises a predetermined number of identical, and / or complementary, and / or compatible parameterizable characteristics, or if a predetermined number of parameterizable characteristics of their profile has not been parameterized. 9 - linking system according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the terminals comprise: a remote communication means with the management unit, and / or a proximity communication means allowing them to communicate directly with each other, - means for reading the identifiers, and / or means for inputting the identifier by the user, which is designed to generate an interpreted information, - an application executable by the terminal for transmitting the information interpreted at the central management via the remote communication means, and / or nearby terminals via the means of proximity communication. Linking system according to claim 9, characterized in that the terminals are computers or electronic tablets, the reading means being formed by a means of shooting the terminal, or by a contactless electronic sensor of the terminal, which are controlled by the application, the input means being formed by a keyboard or touch screen of the terminal controlled by the application. 11 - linking system according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the identifiers of at least one of the groups of identifiers allow, for any user who has interpreted one of them to using its terminal, that the user's access authorization process to the corresponding linking interface is simplified, so that a user who has interpreted such an identifier can access a user community. users or to a discussion forum, for example a forum for help or mutual technical assistance. 12 - A method of connecting users each having a terminal, said method being characterized in that identifiers each comprise a visual code interpretable by each of the terminals and are divided into several groups of identifiers, each being associated with an interface for connecting users, said method comprising the following steps: one of the users interprets one of the identifiers using the terminal at his disposal, the interpretation of the identifier by the terminal available to him the user initiates an authorization process of the user to access the linking interface with which the group of identifiers to which the interpreted identifier belongs is associated.