Using occlusions to detect and track three-dimensional objects

A mobile platform detects and tracks a three-dimensional (3D) object using occlusions of a two-dimensional (2D) surface. To detect and track the 3D object, an image of the 2D surface with the 3D object is captured and displayed and the 2D surface is detected and tracked. Occlusion of a region assigned as an area of interest on the 2D surface is detected. The shape of the 3D object is determined based on a predefined shape or by using the shape of the area of the 2D surface that is occluded along with the position of the camera with respect to the 2D to calculate the shape. Any desired action with respect to the position of the 3D object on the 2D surface may be performed, such as rendering and displaying a graphical object on or near the displayed 3D object.