Patent Publication Number: US-10789476-B2

Title: Information processing apparatus and information processing method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/559,890, filed Sep. 20, 2017, which is a national stage entry of PCT/JP2016/056874, filed Mar. 4, 2016, which claims priority from prior Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2015-073745 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Mar. 31, 2015, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Technology that augments the real environment obtained through a camera or like using a computer is being studied as augmented reality (AR). In particular, many AR applications that recognize an object and display appropriate information in a superimposed manner, by holding a camera of a mobile terminal over the object are being developed due to mobile terminals equipped with cameras being easier to use as the result of the popularization of smartphones in recent years. Thus, Patent Literature 1 below describes technology that assumes a program itself functions as an authentication key. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: 
     JP 2002-344444A 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     In an AR application, it was necessary to add a special tag image or marker image to an object that serves as the subject, to perform object recognition with an image obtained from a camera. Therefore, a markerless AR method that recognizes an object by analyzing features obtained from the image, without using a marker image, is also conceivable. 
     However, with either approach, it was necessary to record the features to be recognized as dictionary data beforehand, to recognize the object. Therefore, objects for which it is difficult to acquire features beforehand, such as unknown applications running on another terminal, and applications in which the state of a screen dynamically changes, were difficult to use as objects to be recognized. 
     Thus, there has been a desire to link devices by recognizing the appearance of a device, such as an unknown application or a dynamically changing application. 
     Solution to Problem 
     According to the present disclosure, there is provided an information processing apparatus including: an appearance information acquisition unit configured to acquire appearance information indicating a feature of appearance of an own device; and a sending unit configured to send the appearance information to communicate with another device that has imaged the appearance of the own device. 
     The information processing apparatus may include a display screen. The appearance information acquisition unit may include an image information generation unit configured to generate image information indicating a feature of a screen displayed on the display screen as the appearance information. 
     In addition, the sending unit may send, together with the image information, communication information for communicating with the other device. 
     In addition, a plurality of applications may be displayed on the display screen, the image information generation unit may generate the image information for each of the plurality of applications, and the sending unit may send the image information generated for each application. 
     In addition, communication may be performed with the other device for which it has determined that a captured image of the display screen and the image information match. 
     In addition, the information processing apparatus may include an identification information acquisition unit configured to acquire identification information for identifying the other device. The sending unit may send the identification information together with the image information. 
     In addition, the identification information may include at least a portion of an IP address of the other device. 
     In addition, the identification information acquisition unit may acquire the identification information sent by beacon, sound, or light. 
     In addition, the information processing apparatus may include a position information acquisition unit configured to acquire position information. The sending unit may send the position information together with the image information. 
     In addition, according to the present disclosure, there is provided an information processing method including: acquiring appearance information indicating a feature of appearance of an own device; and sending the appearance information to communicate with another device that has imaged the appearance of the own device. 
     In addition, according to the present disclosure, there is provided a program for causing a computer to function as means for acquiring appearance information indicating a feature of appearance of an own device, and means for sending the appearance information to communicate with another device that has imaged the appearance of the own device. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     As described above, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to link devices by recognizing the appearance of a device, such as an unknown application or a dynamically changing application. Note that the effects described above are not necessarily limitative. With or in the place of the above effects, there may be achieved any one of the effects described in this specification or other effects that may be grasped from this specification. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic view of an outline of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1B  is a schematic view of an outline of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the configuration of the system according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating the processes of generating and recording image information by a terminal to be recognized. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart for explaining the process of image recognition by a recognizing terminal. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart for explaining the process of a dictionary data storage function of a server. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of examples of communication information. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a system in which a tabletop interactive system and a terminal such as a smartphone are linked. 
         FIG. 8  is an explanatory view illustrating a functional configuration example of an information processing system in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic view of an example of linking a stand-alone display to a wearable device. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic view illustrating a case in which applications on a large screen display installed on a wall are recognized. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic view of objects such as home electric appliances that are connected to a network at home. 
     
    
    
     MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, (a) preferred embodiment(s) of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the appended drawings. In this specification and the appended drawings, structural elements that have substantially the same function and structure are denoted with the same reference numerals, and repeated explanation of these structural elements is omitted. 
     Note that the description will be given in the following order. 
     1. Configuration example of the system 
     2. Terminal and server processes 
     3. Examples of communication information 
     4. Case in which application screen is a moving image 
     5. Narrowing down recorded information 
     6. Examples of application of the embodiment 
     6.1. Application to a tabletop interactive system 
     6.2. Wearable devices and other display devices 
     6.3. Recognition of applications on a large screen display installed on a wall 
     6.4. Wearable cameras and home electric appliances 
     1. Configuration Example of the System 
       FIG. 1B  and  FIG. 1A  are schematic views of an outline of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. This system performs communication between a recognized terminal and a recognizing terminal that are linked by one terminal recognizing, via a camera image, an application running on another terminal, when linking a plurality of terminals. As illustrated in  FIG. 1A , in this system, a mobile device that serves as a recognizing terminal  200  images an application screen  110  of a tablet terminal that serves as a terminal  100  to be recognized. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1B , the terminal  100  to be recognized sequentially records the application screen  110  as dictionary data on a server  300 . The recognizing terminal  200  acquires the dictionary data from the server  300  and compares the dictionary data with an image obtained through the imaging. Then, if the result of the comparison is such that the dictionary data and the image match, the terminal  100  and the terminal  200  start to communicate. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the configuration of a system  1000  according to the embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the system  1000  includes the terminal  100  to be recognized, the recognizing terminal  200 , and the server  300 . The terminal  100  to be recognized displays an application or the like on a display screen. The terminal  100  to be recognized also includes an image information generation unit  102 , which generates the application screen on the terminal  100  as image information (dictionary data). The terminal  100  records the image information on the server  300  by sending the image information from a communication unit  104  to a communication unit  304  of the server  300 . The server  300  has a storage unit  302  for image information. Note that constituent elements of the terminals  100  and  200 , and the server  300 , illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  may be formed by hardware (circuits), or by a central processing unit such as a CPU, and a program (software) that makes the central processing unit function. In this case, the program can be stored on a recording medium such as memory provided inside a device, or memory connected from the outside. 
     The image information generation unit  102  of the terminal  100  generates image information regarding features for image recognition and a snapshot of an application being displayed by the terminal  100 , and records the data on a storage unit  302  of the server  300 . If a plurality of application screens are being displayed on the terminal  100 , image information is sent for each application screen. The terminal  100  simultaneously records, on the server  300 , both communication information for the terminal  100  and the terminal  200  to communicate with each other, and communication information for the terminal  200  to communicate with an application being displayed on the terminal  100 . The image information can also be generated on the server  300  using snapshot data, instead of being generated on the terminal  100  to be recognized. The application screen may be a still image or a moving image. 
     The recognizing terminal  200  has a camera  202 , an image recognition unit  204 , and a communication unit  206 . The camera  202  images the application screen displayed on the terminal  100 , and the image recognition unit  204  recognizes an image obtained through the imaging. The communication unit  206  communicates with the communication unit  304  of the server  300 , and acquires the image information stored on the storage unit  302 . The image recognition unit  204  recognizes the application being displayed on the terminal  100 , by comparing the image information with the image data input from the camera  202 . Then, if the application screen imaged by the camera  202  matches the image information acquired from the server  300 , information for communicating with the terminal  100  and information for communicating with the application being displayed on the terminal  100  is acquired from the storage unit  302  of the server  300 , and communication with the terminal  100  to be recognized starts. 
     The storage unit  302  of the server  300  stores image information to be recorded from the terminal  100  to be recognized, information for the terminal  100  and the terminal  200  to communicate with each other, and information for the terminal  200  to communicate with the application of the terminal  100 , and provides the stored data in response to a request from the image recognition unit  202  of the recognizing terminal  200 . Note that a dictionary data storage function of the server  300  may be configured on the terminal  100  having a dictionary data generating function, or on the terminal  200  having an image recognizing function. 
     Therefore, according to the system of the embodiment, the recognizing terminal  200  and terminal  100  to be recognized can be linked by the recognizing terminal  200  recognizing, via a camera image, an application running on the terminal  100  to be recognized, when linking a plurality of terminals. 
     The terminal  100  that is running the application screen to be recognized sends the image information such as the features for image recognition and the snapshot of the application screen to the server  300  in real time in accordance with a change of the screen. An unknown application or an application with a dynamically changing state can then be identified by image recognition, without generating and recording dictionary data beforehand, by the recognizing terminal  200  comparing this image information with the image from the camera  202 . 
     As a precondition when carrying out the embodiment, the terminal  100  to be recognized, the recognizing terminal  200 , and the server  300  are connected beforehand by a network or P2P so as to be able to communicate with one another. The method of connection is not particularly limited, however. 
     2. Terminal and Server Processes 
     Next, the processes of generating and recording the image information by the terminal  100  to be recognized will be described with reference to  FIG. 3 . First, when an application on the terminal  100  to be recognized is launched, it is determined in step S 10  whether the display screen has changed. If the display screen has changed, the process proceeds on to step S 12 , where image information regarding the features for image recognition and the snapshot of the display screen is generated. On the other hand, if there is no change in the display screen, the process waits for a certain period of time in step S 19 , and then returns to step S 10 , where it is again determined whether the display screen has changed. 
     After step S 12 , the process proceeds on to step S 14 , where the server  300  records the snapshot and the features for image recognition generated in step S 12 . Communication information is also recorded at this time. The communication information is information for the terminal  200  to communicate with the terminal  100 , and information for the terminal  200  to communicate with the application of the terminal  100 . 
     In the next step, step S 16 , it is determined whether the function of the application has ended. If the function of the application has ended, the server  300  is notified of this, and the process proceeds on to step S 18 . In step S 18 , the data recorded on the server  300  is erased. After step S 18 , the process ends. 
     Also, if in step S 16  the function of the application has not ended, the process waits a certain period of time in step S 19  and then returns to step S 10 , and the processes thereafter are performed again. 
     Next, the process of image recognition by the recognizing terminal  200  will be described with reference to  FIG. 4 . First, when an application on the recognizing terminal  200  is launched, it is determined in step S 20  whether it is necessary to recognize the terminal  100  to be recognized, to communicate with the terminal  100  to be recognized. If it is necessary to recognize the terminal  100  to be recognized, the process proceeds on to step S 22 , where the image information regarding the image features and the snapshot are acquired from the server  300 . On the other hand, if it is not necessary to recognize the terminal  100  to be recognized, the process waits a certain period of time in step S 32  and then returns to step S 20 , and the processes thereafter are performed again. 
     After step S 22 , the process proceeds on to step S 24 , where the image input from the camera  202  is compared with the image information acquired in step S 22 . If the result of the comparison is such that the image input from the camera  202  matches the image information acquired in step S 22 , the process proceeds on to step S 26 , and the communication information stored on the server  300  is acquired. On the other hand, if the image input from the camera  202  does not match the image information acquired in step S 22 , the process waits a certain period of time in step S 32  and then returns to step S 20 , and the processes thereafter are performed again. In this matching determination, the captured image is analyzed, the features are extracted, and these features are compared with the features in the image information, by a method similar to a well-known face detection algorithm or the like, for example. Then it is determined whether the images match, on the basis of the degree of correlation by a template matching process or the like. 
     After step S 26 , the process proceeds on to step S 28 . In step S 28 , the terminal  200  communicates with the terminal  100  on the basis of the communication information. As a result, the terminal  200  is able to communicate with the application displayed on the terminal  100 . In the next step, step S 30 , it is determined whether the function of the application has ended. If the function of the application has ended, the process ends. 
     On the other hand, if the function of the application has not ended, the process waits a certain period of time in step S 32  and then returns to step S 20 , and the processes thereafter are performed again. 
     Next, the process of the dictionary data storage function of the server  300  will be described with reference to  FIG. 5 . First, when the dictionary data storage function of the server  300  starts, the process waits for a communication request from an application on the terminal  100  to be recognized or an application on the recognizing terminal  200  in step S 40 . If there is a request to record image information from the terminal  100  to be recognized in the next step, step S 42 , the process proceeds on to step S 44  and the image information is recorded. 
     Also, if there is a request in step S 46  to record communication information from the terminal  100 , the process proceeds on to step S 48 . In step S 48 , the communication information is recorded. 
     Also, if there is a request from the terminal  200  in step S 50  to acquire image information, the process proceeds on to step S 52 . In step S 52 , the image information is provided to the terminal  200 . 
     Also, if there is a request in step S 54  to acquire communication information from the terminal  200 , the process proceeds on to step S 56 . In step S 56 , the communication information is provided to the terminal  200 . 
     In step S 58 , it is determined whether the function of the application has ended. If the function of the application has ended, the process ends. On the other hand, if the function of the application has not ended, the process returns to step S 40 , and the processes thereafter are performed again. 
     3. Examples of Communication Information 
     Information such as protocol name, port number, and IP address are examples of communication information.  FIG. 6  is a schematic view of examples of communication information.  FIG. 6  is a schematic view of communication information for a device A, a device B, and a device C, respectively. The communication information is defined for each of a network interface, an internet layer, a transport layer, an application layer, and a communication format. Information relating to the network interface includes WiFi, Bluetooth (registered trademark), Ethernet (registered trademark), and WiFi Direct, and the like. Information relating to the internet layer includes an IP address and a port number (IPv4 and IPV6). Information relating to the transport layer is TCP or UDP information. Information relating to the application layer includes HTTP, HTTPS, WebSocket (ws) and secure WebSocket (wss) and the like. Information relating to the communication format includes JSON PRC, SOAP, and REST, and the like. 
     The terminal  100  to be recognized and the recognizing terminal  200  are able to communicate with each other by sharing communication information via the server  300 . The terminal  200  recognizes the terminal  100  by the IP address included in the communication information. The terminal  200  also recognizes the application of the terminal  100  by the port number included in the communication information. The communication information is linked to the image information and sent from the terminal  100  to the terminal  200  for each application screen, and is stored, together with the image information, on the storage unit  302 . The image information is sent, together with the linked communication information, to the terminal  200  in response to a request from the terminal  200  to acquire the image information. Therefore, even if there are a plurality of application screens on the terminal  100 , the terminal  200  is able to communicate with the application imaged by the camera  202 , among the plurality of applications, by acquiring the port number corresponding to the image information. 
     4. A Case in which the Application Screen is a Moving Image 
     As described above, the application screen may be a moving image. If the application screen is a moving image, a mechanism for absorbing a time lag in the communication can be introduced. For example, a frame number may be sent from the terminal  100  to be recognized to the server  300  before the image information. There is no time lag in the transmission of the frame number. Time information is linked to the frame number, so the server  300  is able to recognize in advance that image information will be received. The server  300  receives the image information from the terminal  100  after the frame number. Then, when the server  300  receives the image information from the terminal  100 , the image information for the frame corresponding to the requested time is extracted and sent to the terminal  200  in response to the request already received from the terminal  200 . As a result, the terminal  200  is able to determine whether the image from the camera at the requested time matches the image information sent from the server  300 . 
     Alternatively, a moving image captured by the camera  202  may also be stored (cached) for just a certain period of time in the recognizing terminal  200 . As a result, even if there is a time lag when the terminal  200  receives the image information from the server  300 , it is possible to determine whether the image information matches the cached moving image by comparing the received image information with the stored moving image, on the basis of the time information for the frame, on the terminal  200  side. 
     5. Narrowing Down Recorded Information 
     In a case where multiple terminals  100  to be recognized have recorded image information and communication information on the server  300 , the server  300  that has received a request to acquire the image information and communication information from the recognizing terminal  200  narrows down the information from among the large amount of image information and communication information recorded, and sends the information to the terminal  200  that sent out the request to acquire the information. 
     In the embodiment, a search on the server  300  side can be made easier by using supplementary information for narrowing down the information. Position information is an example of such supplementary information. The terminal  100  to be recognized sends, together with the dictionary data, position information for the terminal  100  acquired by a position information acquisition unit (GPS)  106 , to the server  300 . The server  300  records the position information together with the image information and the communication information. 
     When the recognizing terminal  200  requests image information from the server  300 , the recognizing terminal  200  sends the position information for the terminal  200  acquired by a position information acquisition unit (GPS)  208  to the server  300 . An information extraction unit  306  of the server  300  narrows down the image information and the communication information on the basis of the position information acquired from the terminal  200 . For example, the server  300  extracts image information and communication information for a terminal  100  positioned within a 10-meter radius of the position of the terminal  200  on the basis of the position information acquired from the terminal  200 , and sends this image information and communication information to the terminal  200 . By narrowing down the image information and communication information for multiple terminals  100  on the basis of position information in this way, a comparison between the image information and the imaging information can be easily performed on the terminal  200  side, which enables the processing load to be significantly reduced. 
     Various types of information aside from position information can be used as the supplementary information. For example, an identification information output unit  209  of the terminal  200  sends identification information to the terminal  100  using Beacon Wi-Fi, sound, or light or the like, from the recognizing terminal  200  toward the terminal to be recognized. An identification information acquisition unit  108  of the terminal  100  to be recognized acquires the identification information. The terminal  100  sends the identification information, together with the image information and the communication information, to the server  300 , and the server  300  then records this identification information, together with the image information and the communication information. 
     When the recognizing terminal  200  requests image information from the server  300 , the recognizing terminal  200  sends the identification information to the server  300 . The server  300  narrows down the image information on the basis of the identification information acquired from the terminal  200 , and then sends the image information and communication information linked to identification information that matches the identification information sent from the terminal  200 , from among the image information and communication information recorded, to the terminal  200 . As a result, the terminal  200  is able to extract only the image information for the imaged terminal  100 , from the large amount of image information recorded. The IP address, or a portion of the IP address, of the terminal  200  can be used as the identification information. By narrowing down the image information for multiple terminals  100  on the basis of identification information in this way, a comparison between the image information and the imaging information can be easily performed on the terminal  200  side, which enables the processing load to be significantly reduced. 
     Also, the dictionary data may be searched in order from the most recently recorded, on the basis of the order in which the dictionary data was recorded on the server  300 . 
     6. Examples of Application of the Embodiment 
     6.1. Application to a Tabletop Interactive System 
     Several examples in which the embodiment has been applied are described below.  FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a system in which a tabletop interactive system and a terminal such as a smartphone are linked. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , this system  1100   a  includes an input unit  1110   a  and an output unit  1130   a . The information processing system  1100   a  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure illustrated in  FIG. 7  displays information on a top surface of a table  1140   a , and allows a user using the information processing system  1100   a  to manipulate the information displayed on the table  1140   a . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the method for displaying the information on the top surface of the table  1140   a  is also referred to as a “projection type”. 
     The input unit  1110   a  is a device that inputs content of an operation by the user using the information processing system  1100   a , and the shape and pattern and the like of an object placed on the table  1140   a . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the input unit  1110   a  is provided in a state suspended from a ceiling, for example, above the table  1140   a . That is, the input unit  1110   a  is provided away from the table  1140   a  on which the information is to be displayed. A camera that images the table  1140   a  with a single lens, a stereo camera capable of imaging the table  1140   a  with two lenses and recording information in the depth direction, or a microphone for recording sounds spoken by a user using the information processing system  1100   a  or ambient sounds of the environment where the information processing system  1100   a  is placed, or the like may be used as the input unit  1110   a.    
     If a camera that images the table  1140   a  with a single lens is used as the input unit  1110   a , the information processing system  1100   a  is able to detect an object placed on the table  1140   a , by analyzing the image captured by the camera. Also, if a stereo camera is used as the input unit  1110   a , a visible light camera or an infrared camera or the like, for example, can be used as the stereo camera. By using a stereo camera as the input unit  1110   a , the input unit  1110   a  can acquire depth information. By acquiring depth information with the input unit  1110   a , the information processing system  1100   a  is able to detect a hand or an object placed on the table  1140   a , for example. Also, by acquiring depth information with the input unit  1110   a , the information processing system  1100   a  is able to detect when a hand of the user contacts or is close to the table  1140   a , and detect when the hand leaves the table  1140   a . Note that in the description below, movements in which the user brings an operating body such as a hand into contact with, or close to, an information display surface will also collectively be referred to simply as a “touch”. 
     Also, if a microphone is used as the input unit  1110   a , a microphone array for picking up sounds in a specific direction can be used as the microphone. If a microphone array is used as the input unit  1110   a , the information processing system  1100   a  may adjust the pickup direction of the microphone array to a suitable direction. 
     Hereinafter, mainly a case in which an operation by the user is detected from an image captured by the input unit  1110   a  will be described, but the present disclosure is not limited to this example. The operation by the user may also be detected by a touch panel that detects the touch of a finger or the like of the user. Also, aside from this, a user operation that can be acquired by the input unit  1110   a  can include a stylus operation with respect to an information display surface, or a gesture with respect to a camera or the like, for example. 
     The output unit  1130   a  is a device that displays information on the table  1140   a  and outputs audio, in accordance with information input by the input unit  1110   a , such as the content of an operation by the user using the information processing system  1100   a , the content of information being output by the output unit  130   a , and the shape and pattern and the like of an object placed on the table  1140   a . A projector or a speaker or the like, for example, is used as the output unit  1130   a . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the output unit  1130   a  is provided in a state suspended from a ceiling, for example, above the table  140   a . If the output unit  1130   a  is configured by a projector, the output unit  1130   a  projects information onto the top surface of the table  1140   a . If the output unit  1130   a  is configured by a speaker, the output unit  1130   a  outputs audio on the basis of an audio signal. If the output unit  1130   a  is configured by a speaker, the number of speakers may be one or a plurality. If the output unit  1130   a  is configured by a plurality of speakers, the information processing system  1100   a  may limit the speakers from which audio is output, or may adjust the direction in which the audio is output. 
     Also, if the information processing system  1100   a  is a projection type system as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the output unit  1130   a  may also include lighting equipment. If the output unit  1130   a  includes lighting equipment, the information processing system  1100   a  may control the on/off state and the like of the lighting equipment on the basis of information input by the input unit  1110   a.    
     The user using the information processing system  1100   a  is able to manipulate the information displayed on the table  1140   a  by the output unit  1130   a , by placing a finger or the like on the table  1140   a . Also, by placing an object on the table  1140   a  and having the input unit  1110   a  recognize the object, the user using the information processing system  1100   a  is able to execute various operations relating to the recognized object. 
     Note that, although not illustrated in  FIG. 7 , another device may be connected to the information processing system  1100   a . For example, lighting equipment for illuminating the table  1140   a  may be connected to the information processing system  1100   a . By connecting lighting equipment for illuminating the table  1140   a  to the information processing system  1100   a , the information processing system  1100   a  is able to control the lighting state of the lighting equipment in accordance with the state of the information display surface. 
       FIG. 8  is an explanatory view illustrating a functional configuration example of an information processing system  1100  in  FIG. 7 . Below, a functional configuration example of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to  FIG. 8 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the information processing system  1100  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes an input unit  1110  a control unit  1120 , and an output unit  1130 . 
     The input unit  1110  inputs content of an operation with respect to the information processing system  1100  by a user using the information processing system  1100 , and the shape and pattern and the like of an object placed on a surface (e.g., the table  1140   a  illustrated in  FIG. 7 ) onto which information is output by the output unit  1130 . The content of an operation with respect the information processing system  1100  by a user using the information processing system  1100  includes the content of an operation with respect to GUI that the information processing system  1100  outputs onto the information display surface. Information input by the input unit  1110 , such as the content of an operation with respect to the information processing system  1100 , and the shape and pattern and the like of the object, is sent to the control unit  1120 . 
     If the information processing system  1100  is a projection type system, the input unit  1110  may be configured by a camera with a single lens, a stereo camera with two lenses, or a microphone, or the like. 
     The control unit  1120  controls the various units of the information processing system  1100 . For example, the control unit  1120  generates information to be output from the output unit  1130 , using information input by the input unit  1110 . As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the control unit  1120  includes a detection unit  1121  and an output control unit  1122 . The detection unit  1121  executes a process for detecting the content of an operation with respect to the information processing system  1100  by a user using the information processing system  1100 , the content of information being output by the output unit  1130 , and the shape and pattern and the like of an object placed on a surface (e.g., the table  1140   a  illustrated in  FIG. 7 ) onto which information is output by the output unit  1130 . The content detected by the detection unit  1121  is sent to the output control unit  1122 . The output control unit  1122  executes control to generate information to be output from the output unit  1130 , on the basis of the content detected by the detection unit  1121 . The information generated by the output control unit  1122  is sent to the output unit  1130 . 
     For example, if the information processing system  1100  is the projection type system illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the detection unit  1121  is able to detect what portion of the GUI an operating body such as a hand of the user touched, by a correction being made beforehand such that the coordinates on the information display surface match the coordinates where the operating body such as the hand of the user touched the display surface. 
     The control unit  1120  may also be configured by a central processing unit (CPU) or the like, for example. If the control unit  1120  is configured by a device such as a CPU, the device may be configured by an electronic circuit. 
     Also, although not illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the control unit  1120  may include a communication function for performing wireless communication with another device, and a function for controlling the operation of another device, e.g., lighting equipment, connected to the information processing system  1100 . 
     The output unit  1130  outputs information input by the input unit  1110 , in accordance with information such as the content of an operation by the user using the information processing system  1100 , the content of information being output by the output unit  1130 , and the shape and pattern and the like of an object placed on a surface (e.g., the table  1140   a  illustrated in  FIG. 7 ) onto which the output unit  1130  outputs information. The output unit  1130  outputs the information on the basis of the information generated by the output control unit  1122 . The information output by the output unit  1130  includes information to be displayed on the information display surface, and audio to be output from a speaker (not shown) or the like, and so on. 
     The information processing system  1100  illustrated in  FIG. 8  may be configured as a single device, or a portion of the information processing system  1100  or the entire information processing system  1100  illustrated in  FIG. 8  may be configured by separate devices. For example, in the functional configuration example of the information processing system  1100  illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the control unit  1120  may be provided in a device such as a server that is connected to the input unit  1110  and the output unit  1130  by a network or the like. In the case where the control unit  1120  is provided in a device such as a server, information from the input unit  1110  is sent to the device such as the server over the network or the like. The control unit  1120  then processes the information from the input unit  1110 , and information to be output by the output unit  1130  is sent from the device such as the server to the output unit  1130  over the network or the like. 
     If the information processing system  1100  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is configured to project information onto a table, and enable a user to manipulate the information, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , for example, the information processing system  1100  can be linked to a mobile terminal such as a smartphone on the table. For example, the information processing system  100  according to an example of the present disclosure is able to identify a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, and link to the identified mobile terminal, by the user placing the mobile terminal on the table and having the input unit  1110  recognize the mobile terminal. 
     However, if a plurality of users owning the exact same mobile terminal place these same mobile terminals separately on the table at the same time, and try to have the information processing system  1100  recognize these mobile terminals, the information processing system  1100  will be unable to determine which of the mobile terminals to link to. 
     Therefore, with an embodiment of the present disclosure, even if a plurality of users owning the exact same mobile terminal place these same mobile terminals separately on the table at the same time, it is possible to easily determine which mobile terminal to link to by making the determination using the image information described above. In this case, the terminal  100  to be recognized corresponds to the mobile terminal, and the recognizing terminal  100  corresponds to the information processing system  1100 . Therefore, the information processing system  1100  can be linked to each of the mobile terminals. 
     6.2. Wearable Devices and Other Display Devices 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic view of an example in which a stand-alone display  400  and a wearable device  450  are linked. Here, the stand-alone display  400  corresponds to the terminal  100  to be recognized, and the wearable device  450  corresponds to the recognizing terminal  200 . The wearable device  450  images one application screen  410 ,  420 , or  430  displayed on the stand-alone display  400  using the camera  202 , and compares the image information recorded on the server  300  beforehand with the imaging information. If, upon this comparison, the image information recorded on the server  300  beforehand and the imaging information match, the wearable device  450  is able to communicate with the application. 
     6.3. Recognition of Applications on a Large Screen Display Installed on a Wall 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic view illustrating a case in which applications on a large screen display  500  installed on a wall are recognized. As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the large screen display  500  is installed with a screen  502  vertical to the ground. A plurality of applications  510 ,  520 , and  530  are running on the screen  502 . 
     Image information for each application, or an arbitrary one or a plurality of applications, displayed on the screen  502  of the large screen display  500  is sent, together with communication information, to the server  300  and recorded on the server  300 . 
     On the other hand, the user uses an application on his or her smartphone  600  and images the application screen displayed on the screen  502 . As a result, the smartphone  600  recognizes the screens of the applications  510 ,  520 , and  530 . 
     The smartphone  600  corresponds to the recognizing terminal  200  described above. The smartphone  600  compares the image information for the applications  510 ,  520 , and  530  recorded on the server  300  with the captured image. If, upon this comparison, the image information for the applications  510 ,  520 , and  530  recorded on the server  300  and the captured image match, communication between the smartphone  600  and the application  510  is realized. 
     Various linked applications can be executed by using communication obtained by the smartphone  600  recognizing the application screen. For example, image, video, and music data on the smartphone  600  can be played on the application  510  of the large screen display  500 . Also, a plurality of users can also play card games and the like by smartphones owned by the plurality of users recognizing one application  510  on the large screen display  500  and communicating with each other. 
     Note that in  FIG. 10 , the applications  510 ,  520 , and  530  on the large screen display  500  are recognized, but an application on a screen of the smartphone  600  of the user can also be recognized by a camera placed on the large screen display  500 . In this case, the large screen display  500  corresponds to the recognizing terminal  200 , and the smartphone  600  corresponds to the terminal  100  to be recognized. 
     6.4. Wearable Cameras and Home Electric Appliances 
       FIG. 11  is a schematic view of objects  700  such as home electric appliances that are connected to a network at home. These objects  700  that are connected to the network correspond to the terminal  100  to be recognized. The objects  700  such as home electric appliances record pictures of the appearance and 3D model data of themselves in the dictionary data storage function of the server  300 . 
     Therefore, with the system illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the objects  700  corresponding to the terminal  100  to be recognized acquire appearance information relating to appearance features of themselves, and record this appearance information on the server  300 . The user wears a wearable device  450  similar to the wearable device in  FIG. 9 . This wearable device  450  corresponds to the recognizing terminal  100 . The wearable device  450  acquires images of these objects  700  by imaging the objects  700  with the camera  202 , and determines whether the images matches the appearance information provided by the server  300 . If the images match the appearance information provided by the server  300 , the wearable device  450  communicates with the objects  700 . 
     Various applications can be executed using communication obtained by recognition. For example, an application for setting an air conditioner can be executed by an operation from the wearable device  450 , as a result of recognizing the air conditioner. Also, an application for unlocking a lock in a door knob can be executed by an operation from the wearable device  450 , as a result of recognizing the lock. Note that in  FIG. 10 , recognition is performed by the wearable device  450 , but recognition may also be performed by a mobile device such as a smartphone. Also, the device connected to the network in  FIG. 10  is an example, and is not limited to being a connected device or object. 
     As described above, according to the embodiment, an unknown application or a dynamically changing application can be recognized, via image recognition, by the sending, in real time, features and a snapshot of the application that is to be recognized, and using the features and the snapshot as dictionary data in the terminal  100  that performs the recognition. 
     Also, a linking application using a plurality of devices can also be executed by being recognized by the plurality of devices. Also, when a device or an object is connected to a network, the device or object can be recognized by, and linked to, another device without performing the recording operation beforehand, by dynamically recording an image of the appearance, and 3D model data, of the device or object as dictionary data. 
     The preferred embodiment(s) of the present disclosure has/have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, whilst the present disclosure is not limited to the above examples. A person skilled in the art may find various alterations and modifications within the scope of the appended claims, and it should be understood that they will naturally come under the technical scope of the present disclosure. 
     Further, the effects described in this specification are merely illustrative or exemplified effects, and are not limitative. That is, with or in the place of the above effects, the technology according to the present disclosure may achieve other effects that are clear to those skilled in the art from the description of this specification. Additionally, the present technology may also be configured as below. 
     (1) 
     An information processing apparatus including: 
     an appearance information acquisition unit configured to acquire appearance information indicating a feature of appearance of an own device; and 
     a sending unit configured to send the appearance information to communicate with another device that has imaged the appearance of the own device. 
     (2) 
     The information processing apparatus according to (1), including: 
     a display screen, 
     in which the appearance information acquisition unit includes an image information generation unit configured to generate image information indicating a feature of a screen displayed on the display screen as the appearance information. 
     (3) 
     The information processing apparatus according to (2), in which the sending unit sends, together with the image information, communication information for communicating with the other device. 
     (4) 
     The information processing apparatus according to (2), in which 
     a plurality of applications are displayed on the display screen, 
     the image information generation unit generates the image information for each of the plurality of applications, and 
     the sending unit sends the image information generated for each application. 
     (5) 
     The information processing apparatus according to (2), in which communication is performed with the other device for which it has determined that a captured image of the display screen and the image information match. 
     (6) 
     The information processing apparatus according to (2), including: 
     an identification information acquisition unit configured to acquire identification information for identifying the other device, 
     in which the sending unit sends the identification information together with the image information. 
     (7) 
     The information processing apparatus according to (6), in which the identification information includes at least a portion of an IP address of the other device. 
     (8) 
     The information processing apparatus according to (6), in which the identification information acquisition unit acquires the identification information sent by beacon, sound, or light. 
     (9) 
     The information processing apparatus according to (2), including: 
     a position information acquisition unit configured to acquire position information, 
     in which the sending unit sends the position information together with the image information. 
     (10) 
     An information processing method including: 
     acquiring appearance information indicating a feature of appearance of an own device; and 
     sending the appearance information to communicate with another device that has imaged the appearance of the own device. 
     (11) 
     A program for causing a computer to function as 
     means for acquiring appearance information indicating a feature of appearance of an own device, and 
     means for sending the appearance information to communicate with another device that has imaged the appearance of the own device. 
     (12) 
     An information processing apparatus including: 
     an imaging unit configured to image another device; 
     an appearance information acquisition unit configured to acquire appearance information indicating a feature of appearance of the other device from a server; 
     an image recognition unit configured to compare the captured image obtained through the imaging performed by the imaging unit with the appearance information; and 
     a communication unit configured to communicate with the other device if the result of the comparison by the image recognition unit is such that the captured image obtained through the imaging performed by the imaging unit and the appearance information match. 
     (13) 
     An information processing apparatus including: 
     an appearance information acquisition unit configured to acquire appearance information indicating a feature of appearance of a first terminal from the first terminal; 
     a storage unit configured to store the appearance information; and 
     a sending unit configured to send, in response to a request from a second terminal, the appearance information to the second terminal to cause the second terminal to compare imaging information obtained by imaging appearance of the first terminal with the appearance information. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
           100  terminal to be recognized 
           102  image information generation unit 
           104  communication unit 
           106  GPS 
           108  identification information acquisition unit 
           200  recognizing terminal