INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS

A terminal device stores therein an application program provided by a second provider and including an image search program. An image search system provided by a first provider stores therein image data and identification information identifying the image search program; registers, in association with the identification information, setting information indicating whether a storage area to be searched is a first storage area exclusive to the second provider or a second storage area not exclusive to the second provider; stores the image data specified as a search target by the second provider in the first or second storage area; receives a search request for the image data transmitted from the terminal device; determines, when the search request includes the identification information, a storage area to be searched among the first and second storage areas; and determines, when not, the second storage area to be the storage area to be searched.