Synchronized, interactive augmented reality displays for multifunction devices

1. A computer-implemented method for generating and synchronizing interactive Augmented Reality (AR) displays, comprising:

capturing live video of a real-world, physical environment and displaying the live video on a touch sensitive surface of a device;

combining an information layer and the live video, the information layer related to one or more objects in the live video;

modeling computer-generated imagery based on the live video;

displaying the computer-generated imagery representing one or more objects in the live video on the touch sensitive surface;

overlaying the information layer on the computer-generated imagery;

receiving sensor data from one or more onboard motion sensors indicating that the device is in motion; and

synchronizing the display of the live video, the computer-generated imagery and the information layer on the touch sensitive surface using the sensor data.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

sharing the synchronized live video and information layer with a second device over a communication link.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating a split screen display having first and second display areas, the first display area configured for displaying the live video combined with the information layer and the second display area for displaying the computer-generated imagery combined with the information layer.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying a navigation control for navigating the computer-generated imagery on the touch sensitive surface.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

performing object recognition on the live video;

obtaining object information for one or more recognized objects; and

generating the information layer for the one or more recognized objects.

6. The method of claim 5 , where generating the information layer, further comprises:

including in the information layer one or more links to one or more network resources providing information related to the one or more recognized objects.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

labeling the recognized one or more objects in the live video display.

8. The method of claim 7 , where at least one object is labeled with a bar code for identifying the object during the object recognition.

9. The method of claim 7 , where at least one object is labeled with one or more markers for identifying an orientation of the object in the live video during object recognition.

10. The method of claim 7 , where at least one label includes content related to the recognized object.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving input through the touch sensitive display, the input identifying an object in the live video;

performing object recognition on the live video to identify the identified object;

obtaining object information for the recognized object; and

generating an information layer based on the object information.

12. The method of claim 2 , where the first and second devices are mobile devices and the communication link is a peer-to-peer communication link.

13. The method of claim 12 , where at least one of the first and second devices is an electronic tablet.

14. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining a route between the first device and a destination; and

displaying the route with the computer-generated imagery.

15. The method of claim 1 , where an object in the real-world, physical environment captured by the live video is a document, the method further comprising:

generating annotations related to the document; and

overlaying the annotations proximate the document on the live video.

16. The method of claim 1 , where an object in the real-world, physical environment captured by the live video is a machine, circuit board or part thereof, the method further comprising:

generating annotations related to the object; and

overlaying the annotations on the live video or computer-generated imagery.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a touch sensitive surface configured for receiving touch input;

one or more onboard motion sensors configured for sensing motion of the apparatus;

a video camera for capturing live video of a real-world, physical environment for display on the touch sensitive surface; and

a processor coupled to the touch sensitive surface, the motion sensor and the video camera, the processor configured for combining an information layer and live video in a display of the device, modeling computer-generated imagery based on the live video, displaying computer-generated imagery representing one or more objects in the live video on the touch sensitive surface, overlaying the information layer on the computer-generated imagery, receiving sensor data from the one or more onboard motion sensors indicating that the apparatus is in motion, synchronizing the live video, computer-generated imagery and the information layer using the sensor data.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising:

a communication system configured for sharing the synchronized live video and annotated information layer with a device over a communication link.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 , where the processor is further configured for:

generating a split screen display having first and second display areas, the first display area configured for displaying the live video combined with the information layer and the second display area for displaying the computer-generated imagery combined with the information layer.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 , where the processor is further configured for:

displaying a navigation control for navigating the computer-generated imagery.

21. The method of claim 1 , where modeling the computer-generated imagery based on the live video includes generating a three-dimensional model of the one or more objects in the live video.

22. The method of claim 1 , where the one or more onboard motion sensors include a gyroscope or an accelerometer.

23. The apparatus of claim 17 , where modeling the computer-generated imagery based on the live video includes generating a three-dimensional model of the one or more objects in the live video.

24. The apparatus of claim 17 , where the one or more onboard motion sensors include a gyroscope or an accelerometer.