Method for translating the location, orientation and movement of a predefined object into computer generated data

1. A method, comprising:

obtaining, from a two dimensional camera image data of a physical object wherein the physical object and comprises a plurality of markers positioned on the outer surface of the physical object; wherein at least a given marker of the plurality of markers is configured to emit radiation;

analyzing, using a computer, the image data, to identify visual markers information indicative of at least some of a plurality of markers;

searching for a path generated by the radiation emitted by the given marker;

wherein when the image data comprises blurred images of the physical object or does not comprise identifiable images of the physical object then tracking a movement of the physical object using the path generated by the radiation emitted by the given marker; and

wherein when the image data comprises non-blurred and identifiable images of the physical object then determining an orientation and a location of the physical object in response to predefined attributes of the plurality of markers and to the visual markers information.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the physical object differs from a handheld controller.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of markers maintain a fixed spatial relationship.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising determining that the physical object is not static but moves at a velocity that is below the velocity that causes images of the object to be blurred; and tracking a movement of the physical object.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the radiation is light.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein multiple markers of the plurality of markers emit visible light of different colors.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the analyzing comprises searching in the image data image patterns that match expected image patterns to be formed by the plurality of markers.

8. The method according to claim 1 comprising triggering a predetermined response to a detection of predefined changes in light emitted by at least one marker of the plurality of markers.

9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising selecting a selected filtering process to be applied during the analyzing of the image data and applying the selected filtering process.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the selection is based upon an application.

11. The method according to claim 1 comprising triggering a selected response to the extracted orientation and location of the predefined object.

12. The method according to claim 11 comprising selecting the selected response by applying a mapping between the extracted orientation and location of the predefined object and between the selected response.

13. The method according to claim 12 comprising selecting a mapping out of multiple mappings.

14. The method according to claim 1 comprising analyzing the data to detect an optical code formed by multiple predefined emissions of light by the object during a time window.

15. The method according to claim 1 comprising calibrating one or more camera parameters in response to image data of multiple markers and known spatial relationship between the multiple markers.

16. The method according to claim 1 comprising:

obtaining image data of a plurality of physical objects; each physical object comprises a plurality of markers positioned on the outer surface of the physical object;

analyzing, using a computer containing the object description file, the data, to identify visual markers information indicative of at least some of a plurality of markers of the plurality of physical objects;

determining an orientation and a location of each of the plurality of physical object in response to predefined attributes of the plurality of markers of the physical object and to the visual markers information.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores instructions that once executed by a computer cause the computer to perform the stages of:

obtaining, from a two dimensional camera image data of a physical object wherein the physical object and comprises a plurality of markers positioned on the outer surface of the physical object; wherein at least a given marker of the plurality of markers is configured to emit radiation;

analyzing, using a computer, the image data, to identify visual markers information indicative of at least some of a plurality of markers;

searching for a path generated by the radiation emitted by the given marker;

wherein when the image data comprises blurred images of the physical object or does not comprise identifiable images of the physical object then tracking a movement of the physical object using the path generated by the radiation emitted by the given marker; and

wherein when the image data comprises non-blurred and identifiable images of the physical object then determining an orientation and a location of the physical object in response to predefined attributes of the plurality of markers and to the visual markers information.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 17 wherein the physical object differs from a handheld controller.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 17 that stores instructions for determining that the physical object is not static but moves at a velocity that is below the velocity that causes images of the object to be blurred; and tracking a movement of the physical object.