Collaborative augmented reality

1. A method, comprising:

obtaining, by an electronic device from an augmented reality server computer, information relating to candidate trigger items;

capturing, by the electronic device, an image or video of a physical target, the electronic device having an augmented reality application and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing the information relating to the candidate trigger items;

determining, by the electronic device or the augmented reality server computer based at least on the information relating to the candidate trigger items, whether the image or video of the physical target captured by the electronic device matches one of the candidate trigger items;

responsive to a determination, by the electronic device or the augmented reality server computer, that the image or video of the physical target captured by the electronic device matches one of the candidate trigger items, displaying, on the electronic device through the augmented reality application, an augmented reality presentation that includes a visual output of the physical target and augmented reality content, wherein the augmented reality content comprises at least one of a replica of the physical target, audio data, video data, image data, or text data;

detecting, by the electronic device or the augmented reality server computer, that another electronic device has captured an image or video of the physical target or a replica thereof; and

initiating, by the electronic device or the augmented reality server computer, a collaborative augmented reality session between the electronic device and the other electronic device.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

retrieving, by the electronic device or the augmented reality server computer, the augmented reality content from an augmented reality content database; and

communicating the augmented reality content retrieved from the augmented reality content database to the augmented reality application.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the candidate trigger items are stored in a storage subsystem of the augmented reality server or at a remote system accessible by the electronic device or the augmented reality server computer over a network.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

communicating, by the electronic device or the augmented reality server computer, information relating to the physical target to the other electronic device, wherein the other electronic device displays, based at least on the information relating to the physical target, the augmented reality presentation that includes the visual output of the physical target and the augmented reality content.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic device and the other electronic device are located in close proximity of each other and wherein the electronic device and the other electronic device communicate with each other through near-field communications, radio communications, Bluetooth communications, or infrared communications.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic device and the other electronic device are located remotely from each other and wherein the electronic device and the other electronic device communicate with each other over a network or over a long-range communications link.

7. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and

stored instructions translatable by the processor for:

running an augmented reality application;

obtaining information relating to candidate trigger items;

capturing an image or video of a physical target;

determining, based at least on the information relating to the candidate trigger items, whether the image or video of the physical target thus captured matches one of the candidate trigger items;

responsive to a determination that the image or video of the physical target thus captured matches one of the candidate trigger items, displaying, through the augmented reality application, an augmented reality presentation that includes a visual output of the physical target and augmented reality content, wherein the augmented reality content comprises at least one of a replica of the physical target, audio data, video data, image data, or text data;

detecting that an electronic device has captured an image or video of the physical target or a replica thereof; and

initiating a collaborative augmented reality session between the system and the electronic device.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the stored instructions are further translatable by the processor for:

retrieving the augmented reality content from an augmented reality content database; and

communicating the augmented reality content retrieved from the augmented reality content database to the augmented reality application.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the candidate trigger items are stored in a storage subsystem of the system or at a remote system accessible by the system over a network.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the stored instructions are further translatable by the processor for:

communicating information relating to the physical target to the electronic device, wherein the electronic device displays, based at least on the information relating to the physical target, the augmented reality presentation that includes the visual output of the physical target and the augmented reality content.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the system and the electronic device are located in close proximity of each other and wherein the system and the electronic device communicate with each other through near-field communications, radio communications, Bluetooth communications, or infrared communications.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the system and the electronic device are located remotely from each other and wherein the system and the electronic device communicate with each other over a network or over a long-range communications link.

13. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions translatable by a processor of an electronic device for:

running an augmented reality application;

obtaining information relating to candidate trigger items;

capturing an image or video of a physical target;

determining, based at least on the information relating to the candidate trigger items, whether the image or video of the physical target thus captured matches one of the candidate trigger items;

responsive to a determination that the image or video of the physical target thus captured matches one of the candidate trigger items, displaying, through the augmented reality application, an augmented reality presentation that includes a visual output of the physical target and augmented reality content, wherein the augmented reality content comprises at least one of a replica of the physical target, audio data, video data, image data, or text data;

detecting that another electronic device has captured an image or video of the physical target or a replica thereof; and

initiating a collaborative augmented reality session between the electronic device and the other electronic device.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further translatable by the processor for:

retrieving the augmented reality content from an augmented reality content database; and

communicating the augmented reality content retrieved from the augmented reality content database to the augmented reality application.

15. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further translatable by the processor for:

communicating information relating to the physical target to the other electronic device, wherein the other electronic device displays, based at least on the information relating to the physical target, the augmented reality presentation that includes the visual output of the physical target and the augmented reality content.

16. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the electronic device and the other electronic device are located in close proximity of each other and wherein the electronic device and the other electronic device communicate with each other through near-field communications, radio communications, Bluetooth communications, or infrared communications.

17. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the electronic device and the other electronic device are located remotely from each other and wherein the electronic device and the other electronic device communicate with each other over a network or over a long-range communications link.