Abstract: A matchmaking system and method for a virtual event. The system comprises a registration module linked to the virtual environment having registration data of participants of the virtual event. A grouping unit matches the participants in different groups based on matching criteria of the participants. A location in the virtual event and metadata for each group is generated based on the matching criteria. An instance of the virtual event is assigned to each group. Each participant is invited to join the matched group. The invitation comprises at least a portion of the metadata of the matched group. Each participant joining the group is granted membership and access to the matched group. The joined participants can communicate with other members of the matched group.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for managing services is disclosed, which comprises providing to a service provider a notification of a service reservation by one or more customer entities, continuously estimating a time of arrival based on a current geolocation of the one or more customer entities, providing to the service provider an indication of the estimated time of arrival, notifying the service provider of an arrival of the one or more customer entities at the location of the service provider based on the current geolocation and the location of the service provider, and responsive to the arrival at the location of the service provider, automatically coupling the one or more customer entities to a communication network of the service provider to confirm the service reservation.

Abstract: A system for delivering applications within a virtual environment. At least one cloud server computer implements at least one virtual environment linked to an application module including one or more installed applications and corresponding application rules for multi-user interactions. Responsive to selection by a virtual environment host through a client device, the one or more installed applications are displayed and activated during a session of the virtual environment, enabling a user graphical representation of the virtual environment host and any participant user graphical representations within the virtual environment to interact with the installed application(s) through corresponding client devices.

Abstract: A system to provision cloud computing-based virtual computing resources within a virtual environment comprising a server computer system including at least one cloud server computer implementing at least one virtual environment, and at least one virtual computer associated with the at least one virtual environment. The at least one virtual computer receives virtual computing resources from the server computer system. The server computer system is configured to provision at least one client device with at least one portion of the available virtual computing resources responsive to the at least one client device accessing the at least one virtual computer.

Abstract: A user authentication system comprising one or more cloud server computers storing a user database storing user data associated with a user account and one or more corresponding user graphical representations, and a facial scanning and authentication module connected to the database. The one or more cloud server computers are configured to authenticate a user by performing a facial scanning of the user, including extracting facial feature data from camera data received from a client device and checking the extracted facial feature data for a match against a user graphical representation associated with the user account in the user database. If a matching user graphical representation is found in the checking step, the system provides the user with access to the corresponding user account. Otherwise, the system generates, from the camera data, a new user graphical representation along with a new user account stored in the user database.

Abstract: A system enabling interactions in virtual environments comprises one or more cloud server computers comprising at least one processor and memory storing data and instructions implementing a virtual environment platform comprising at least one virtual environment; at least one camera obtaining live data feed from a user of a client device; and a client device communicatively connected to the one or more cloud server computers and at least one camera. The system generates a user graphical representation from the live data feed that is inserted into a selected virtual environment and is therein updated, enabling real-time multi-user collaboration and interactions in the virtual environment. Suitable system architectures and methods thereof are also herein disclosed.

Abstract: A system for virtually broadcasting from within a virtual environment, comprising a server computer system. The system implements a data exchange management module configured to manage data exchange between client devices and at least one virtual environment comprising a virtual broadcasting camera positioned within the virtual environment and configured to capture multimedia streams of a virtual multimedia streams source from within the virtual environment. The system is configured to receive live feed data captured by at least one camera from at least one client device and broadcast the multimedia streams to the client device based on data exchange management. The broadcasted multimedia streams are configured to be displayed to corresponding user graphical representations generated from a user live data feed from at least one client device. The data exchange management comprises analyzing the incoming multimedia streams and assessing the forwarding of outbound multimedia streams based on the analyzing.

Abstract: A system enabling ad hoc virtual communications between user graphical representations in a virtual environment. The system comprises one or more cloud server computers implementing a virtual environment. The virtual environment is configured to enable at least one approaching user graphical representation and at least one target user graphical representation in the virtual environment to open an ad hoc communication channel, and to enable an ad hoc conversation via the ad hoc communication channel between the user graphical representations within the virtual environment. The opening of the ad hoc communication channel is performed based on distance, position and orientation between the user graphical representations, or current availability status, privacy settings, or status configuration for the ad hoc communications, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method for providing aircraft network communications is provided. The method includes checking, by an onboard server of an aircraft, for aircraft network connection readiness; receiving, by the onboard server, a connection request from one or more user devices on the aircraft that subsequently and periodically continue scanning for aircraft network connection readiness; in response to finding, by the onboard server, a secure connection to an aircraft communications network based on one or more connection rules, connecting the onboard server to the aircraft communications network; notifying the one or more user devices that a network is available; authenticating the one or more user devices; connecting the one or more user devices to the aircraft network; monitoring network connection status; and in response to determining that the network connection status is insecure based on the one or more connection rules, disconnecting the onboard server from the aircraft communications network.

Abstract: A method for accessing communication networks includes receiving by a device an identification of a communication network; determining whether the identification corresponds to a registered communication network; if the identification corresponds to a registered communication network, generating a password for accessing the communication network by applying a cryptographic function parameterized with a secret value associated with the communication network to the identification; and automatically establishing a connection of the device to the communication network using the generated password. Furthermore, methods for managing access to communication networks and providing communication networks are disclosed. A corresponding client device, service infrastructure and service provider infrastructure are also detailed.