Augmented reality virtual product for display

1. A method comprising:

capturing by a camera of a shopping device at least one image of a physical shopping target that represents a proxy of an actual product for sale, wherein instead of the actual product the physical shopping target is stocked at a location of sale, and wherein the physical shopping target comprises a uniquely patterned three-dimensional structure having multiple uniquely marked sides;

identifying a virtual model of the actual product based on the at least one image of the physical shopping target comprising at least one of the multiple uniquely marked sides;

obtaining the virtual model of the actual product; and

displaying the virtual model of the actual product on the shopping device.

2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

capturing further images of the physical shopping target as the physical shopping target is manipulated by a user and

displaying different views of the virtual model of the actual product on at least a portion of the physical shopping target, such that the different views of the virtual model of the actual product are displayed corresponding to the manipulations of the physical shopping target by the user.

3. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

obtaining actual product descriptive information; and

displaying the actual product descriptive information on the shopping device.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the further information includes a link to purchase the actual product.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the further information includes a link to customer reviews.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the shopping device comprises a smart phone.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the virtual model is displayed as an augmented reality view of the actual product in a retail store.

8. A machine-readable storage device having instructions for execution by a processor of the machine to perform a method comprising:

capturing, by a camera of a shopping device, at least one image of a physical shopping target that represents a proxy of an actual product for sale, wherein instead of the actual product the physical shopping target is stocked at a location of sale, and wherein the physical shopping target comprises a uniquely patterned three-dimensional structure having multiple uniquely marked sides;

using the image of the physical shopping target comprising at least one of the multiple uniquely marked sides of the physical shopping target to identify the actual product in a database and identify a virtual model of the actual product;

obtaining the virtual model of the actual product; and

displaying the virtual model of the actual product on the shopping device.

9. The machine-readable storage device of claim 8 wherein the method further comprises:

capturing, by the camera of the shopping device, further images of the physical shopping target as the physical shopping target is manipulated by a user; and

displaying different views of the virtual model of the actual product on at least a portion of the physical shopping target, such that the different views of the virtual model of the actual product are display corresponding to the manipulations of the physical shopping target by the user.

10. The machine-readable storage device of claim 8 wherein the method further comprises:

obtaining actual product descriptive information from the database; and

displaying the actual product descriptive information on the shopping device.

11. The machine-readable storage device of claim 10 wherein the actual product descriptive information includes a link to purchase the actual product.

12. The machine-readable storage device of claim 10 wherein the actual product descriptive information includes a link to customer reviews.

13. The machine-readable storage device of claim 8 wherein the machine-readable storage device and processor comprise a smart phone.

14. The machine-readable storage device of claim 8 wherein the virtual model is displayed as an augmented reality view of the actual product in a retail store.

15. A device comprising:

a processor;

a camera coupled to provide images to the processor;

a display device coupled to the processor; and

a memory device coupled to the processor and having a program stored thereon for execution by the processor to:

receive from a shopping device, at least one image of a physical shopping target that represents a proxy of an actual product for sale, wherein instead of the actual product the physical shopping target comprises a three-dimensional structure having multiple uniquely marked sides;

use the at least one image of the physical shopping target comprising at least one of the multiple uniquely marked sides of the physical shopping target to identify the actual product in a database and identify a virtual model of the actual product;

obtain the virtual model of the actual product; and

display the virtual model of the actual product on the shopping device.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the processor further executes the program to:

receive further images of the physical shopping target as the shopping target is manipulated by a user; and

display different views of the virtual model of the actual product on at least a portion of the physical shopping target such that the different views of the virtual model of the actual product are displayed corresponding to the manipulations of the physical shopping target by the user.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein the processor further executes the program to:

receive further images of the physical shopping target that comprises a two-dimensional structure having multiple uniquely marked sides, as the physical shopping target is manipulated by the user; and

display different views of the virtual model corresponding to the manipulations of the physical shopping target by the user.

18. The device of claim 15 wherein the processor further executes the program to:

obtain actual product descriptive information from the database; and

display the actual product descriptive information on the shopping device.

19. The device of claim 15 wherein the virtual model is displayed as an augmented reality view of the actual product in a retail store.