Interactive textile article and augmented reality system

Abstract

A system and method an interactive textile article including a textile material having a design object that includes one or more design object identifiers. The design object is associated with an augmented reality software program configured to include content related the design object. A processor configured to execute the augmented reality program so as to compile a design object depiction based the design object identifiers contained in the design object. The processor executes a first augmented content level of a plurality of augmented content levels so as to display 1) the design object depiction, 2) augmentation elements that are related to the design object, and 3) an input element configured to control the design object depiction and the augmentation elements.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 an interactive textile article including a textile material having a face and a back that is opposed to the face, at least one of the face and the back including a design object, the design object including one or more design object identifiers, wherein the design object is associated with an augmented reality software program configured to include content related to the design object; and   an augmented reality program contained in a memory of a computing device and executable by a processor, the augmented reality program including a plurality of augmented content levels, the augmented reality program when executed by the processor:   a) compiles a design object depiction that is based on the one or more design object identifiers included in the design object; and   b) executes a first augmented content level of the plurality of augmented content levels, the first augmented content level configured to display on a computing device 1) the design object depiction, 2) one or more augmentation elements that are related to the design object, and 3) at least one input element configured to control the design object depiction and the one or more augmentation elements.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the textile article is a blanket, bed linen, a comforter, a rug, a carpet, a tapestry, a set of curtains, or a garment. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the textile material is a woven fabric that defines a woven structure, wherein the design object is integrally formed into the woven structure. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the textile material is a knit fabric that defines a knit structure, wherein the design object is integrally formed into the knit structure. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the textile material is a pile fabric including a plurality of pile structures, and the design object is embodied in the plurality of pile structures. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the design object is printed onto the textile material. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the design object is digitally printed onto the textile material. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the design object is sublimation printed onto the textile material. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each design object identifier is an edge of the design object. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the design object identifier is a marker embedded in the textile material. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute a second augmented content level that includes the design object depiction, one or more second virtual elements, and at least one second input device, and wherein engagement of the at least one second input element causes progression through the second augmented content level. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to execute a third augmented content level that includes the design object depiction, one or more third virtual elements, and at least one third input device, and wherein engagement of the at least one third input element causes progression through the third augmented content level. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device includes a camera configured to obtain the image of the design object. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the augmented reality program is configured to interface with one or more additional augmented relative programs running on one or more additional computing devices. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the computing device is a first computing device, and the one or more additional computing devices is a second computing device, wherein respective augmented reality programs when executed by the processor interfaces the first augmented content level of the first computing device with the first augmented content level running on the second computing device in a common augmented reality environment displayed on the first and second computing devices. 
     
     
         16 . A method for displaying augmented reality on a computing device, the method comprising the steps of:
 scanning a portion of an interactive textile article that includes a design object so as to identify one or more design object identifiers of the design object;   compiling a design object depiction based on the one or more design object identifiers; and   initiating a first augmented content level so as to display 1) the design object depiction, 2) one or more augmentation elements that are related to the design object, and 3) at least one input element that controls at least one of the design object depiction and the one or more augmentation elements.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of controlling interaction of the design object depiction with the one or more augmentation elements. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of progressing through a series of displays of the first augmented content level. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of initiating a second augmented content level so as to display 1) the design object depiction, 2) one or more second augmentation elements that are related to the design object, and 3) at least one second input element that controls at least one of the design object depiction and the one or more second augmentation elements. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step, after progression through the second augmented content level, initiating a third augmented content level so as to display 1) the design object depiction, 2) one or more third augmentation elements that are related to the design object, and 3) at least one third input element that controls at least one of the design object depiction and the one or more third augmentation elements.