Information processing apparatus and method in which an objective image is acquired, and indentification information corresponding to specific image pattern is recognized from the objective image. It is determined whether the identification information recognized in local identification information for starting processing previously registered for each terminal, or any one of a plurality of code representing global identification information for starting processing common to all terminals. If the identification information is determined to be local identification information, the processing previously registered for each terminal is locally executed. If the identification information represents the global identification information, a request is made to a global code server that searches an associated global database having a plurality of stored codes and corresponding information, to execute the global processing corresponding to the identification information.