Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for managing vehicle operations utilized for autonomous driving. An example method includes obtaining a set of inputs corresponding to a set of operational information associated with a vehicle; responsive to determined trigger, processing the set of inputs to determine whether the vehicle is available for travel; processing the set of inputs to determine whether at least one occupant has indicated an intent for the vehicle to initiate travel; responsive to determined vehicle availability for travel and determined intent for the vehicle to initiate travel, identifying a set of vehicle operational parameters corresponding to a determined path of travel; and causing the initiation of the identified set of vehicle operational parameters.

Abstract: A communication system and method for communicating over the communication system are provided. The communication system includes a client executed at a user terminal, a front end server and a plurality of other nodes. Data packets of a point-to-point communication are transmitted between the client and one of the other nodes. A persistent connection is provided between the client and the front end server, and the communication system is configured to use the persistent connection to provide support for the point-to-point communication between the client and said one of the other nodes.

Abstract: Instant messaging method and communication system for communicating between a first user at a first user terminal of the communication system and a second user at a second user terminal of the communication system. Instant messages are transmitted over the communication system in both directions between the first and second user terminals, wherein the instant messages constitute a conversation between the first and second users. Each instant message of the conversation is stored in a store at a server of the communication system, wherein the server is accessible from a third user terminal of the communication system such that the first user can retrieve, at the third user terminal, each instant message of the conversation from the store.