System and method for defining an augmented reality view in a specific location

1. A system for defining an augmented reality capability for a portable computer, said system comprising:

a) a portable camera comprising a display and having the ability to show the current real-world environment via the display;

b) a portable computer comprising a computer processor and having the ability to show images, drawings, and models via the display;

c) a software program executed by said computer processor for managing the display of said images, drawings, and models via the display;

d) a set of controls whereby the user can interact with the software program;

e) a plurality of digital marker images that represent a specific preexisting, captured view of a particular location; and

f) digital artifacts comprising a plurality of digital artifacts that are associated with a specific view of a particular location;

wherein the computer processor, via execution of the software program:

i) receives from a user of the system a request for a particular digital marker image from the plurality of digital marker images;

ii) displays the requested digital marker image superimposed on at least a portion of a view of a current real-world environment displayed by the portable camera;

iii) receives from the user of the system an indication that the requested digital marker image and the current real-world environment as displayed by the portable camera are aligned;

iv) marks the location of the current real-world environment upon the user's indication that the requested digital marker image and the view of the current real-world environment are aligned;

v) displays a digital artifact associated with the marked location simultaneously with a view of the current real-world environment; and

vi) displays an adjusted digital artifact in response to an adjustment by the user of the view of the current real-world environment as displayed by the portable camera.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of digital marker images comprises at least one of:

a) a digital picture of the particular location, taken recently; and

b) a digitized 2 dimensional drawing that highlights unique characteristics of the particular location.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said digital marker images:

a) comprise unique features that relate to those visible in the view of the current real-world environment displayed by the portable camera, and are readily recognizable by the user; and

b) are semi-transparent, so that the user can observe both the requested digital marker image and the view of the current real-world environment displayed by the portable camera.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said digital artifact is selected from:

a) a digital picture of the particular location, taken at some point in the past;

b) a digitized 2 dimensional drawing associated with the particular location; and

c) a digitized 3 dimensional model associated with the particular location.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said digital artifact:

a) is related to the particular location; and

b) allows some portion or portions of the view of the current real-world environment to remain visible.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein said digital artifact comprises one or more of the following characteristics:

a) it obscures or partly obscures portions of the view of the current real-world environment with content from the artifact; and

b) it is rotatable, resizable or repositionable in response to changes in the view of the current real-world environment.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein said digital artifact comprises a digital picture of the particular location, taken at some point in the past.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein said digital artifact comprises a digitized 2 dimensional drawing associated with the particular location.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein said digital artifact comprises a digitized 3 dimensional model associated with the particular location.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer processor, via execution of the software program, displays the digital artifact superimposed with high opacity on at least a portion of the view of a current real-world environment displayed by the portable camera.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer processor, via execution of the software program, displays the digital artifact superimposed with low opacity on at least a portion of the view of a current real-world environment displayed by the portable camera.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the portable camera and portable computer are comprised by a single mobile device.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the single mobile device is smart phone or portable computer.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment by the user of the view of the current real-world environment comprises moving closer to or further from a particular location.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment by the user of the view of the current real-world environment comprises changing the altitude or azimuth of the view of the current real-world environment.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the digital artifact comprises a digitized rendition of a future view of a particular location.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the digital artifact comprises a historical model.