Dynamic display of virtual content on several devices using reference tags

Abstract

This is directed to determining the relative position of several devices by capturing representations of the device environments in which a tag is located. The devices can compare the captured representations to determine a perspective of the tag corresponding to each device. In some cases, a device can determine an absolute position relative to a coordinate system integrated in a tag. Using the positioning information, several devices can receive directions to come together at a particular meeting point. In some cases, several devices can operate an application that requires the interaction of several users of the devices (e.g., multi-player games). The application can control the time or manner in which inputs are provided based on the relative positions of the devices. In some cases, the devices can display virtual content that is shared across several devices, where the different devices can each interact with the virtual content.

1 . A method for displaying virtual content on a display, comprising:
 capturing an image of an environment;   detecting a tag in the captured image;   displaying virtual content on a display, wherein the virtual content is displayed from a particular perspective corresponding to an orientation of the device relative to the tag;   receiving, from another device, an instruction to interact with the displayed virtual content; and   modifying the display of the virtual content to reflect the received instruction.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: providing the virtual content to the other device for display. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: detecting another instruction to interact with the displayed virtual content using an input interface of the device; and modifying the display of the virtual content to reflect the detected other instruction. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising: providing the detected other instruction to the other device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying further comprises: displaying the virtual content overlaid in the captured image, wherein the position of the virtual content in the captured image is selected relative to a position of the tag. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying a plurality of instructions to interact with the displayed virtual content, wherein the plurality of instructions comprise instructions received from at least one other device and instructions detected from an input interface of the device;   determining an order in which the identified plurality of instructions were identified; and   applying the identified plurality of instructions to the displayed virtual content in the determined order.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: retrieving time stamps associated with each of the identified plurality of instructions. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein modifying the display further comprises:
 controlling an aspect of movement of the virtual content.   
     
     
         9 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method for playing a multi-player game, comprising:
 receiving a selection of a first avatar by a first device;   receiving a selection of a second avatar by a second device;   displaying the selected first and second avatars on the first device;   displaying the selected first and second avatars on the second device;   receiving an instruction from one of the first and second devices to interact with one of the displayed first and second avatars, wherein the instruction to interact results in a change in the display of the one of the displayed first and second avatars;   changing the display, on the first device, of the one of the first and second avatars based on the received instruction; and   changing the display, on the second device, of the one of the first and second avatars based on the received instruction.   
     
     
         15 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A computer readable media for displaying virtual content on a display, the computer readable media comprising computer program logic recorded thereon for:
 capturing an image of an environment;   detecting a tag in the captured image;   displaying virtual content on a display, wherein the virtual content is displayed from a particular perspective corresponding to an orientation of the device relative to the tag;   receiving, from another device, an instruction to interact with the displayed virtual content; and modifying the display of the virtual content to reflect the received instruction.