Searching apparatus, searching method, and searching system

A searching method comprising:

• receiving a captured image;
• extracting an object included in the captured image;
• calculating a degree of similarity between an object searched for by an index stored in a storage unit that stores the index for searching for an object included in the captured image and cooperative information indicating a function that cooperates with the object in association with each other;
• searching one or more objects based on the degree of similarity from the images stored in the storage unit;
• and
• presenting the cooperative information associated with the index corresponding to the object as a search result of the searching unit to a source of the captured image.

A searching system including a network, a searching apparatus that connects to the network, and a terminal unit that connects to the network and transmits a captured image to the searching apparatus through the network,

• the searching apparatus includes an information processing unit and a storage unit configured to store therein indexes for searching for an object included in an image and cooperative information indicating a function of cooperating with the object in association with each other, wherein
• the information processing unit comprises;
• a receiving unit configured to receive the captured image,
• an extracting unit configured to extract an object included in the captured image,
• a calculating unit configured to calculate a degree of similarity between the object searched for by an index stored in the storage unit and the object extracted from the captured image by the extracting unit,
• a searching unit configured to search for one or more objects based on the degree of similarity from the storage unit, and
• a presenting unit configured to present the cooperative information associated with the index corresponding to the object as a search result of the searching unit to the terminal unit.