Virtual reality systems and methods with cross platform interface for providing support

Abstract

An example method for managing access to a VR platform includes causing presentation of a virtual room including display of a plurality of user identifiers corresponding to users using a non-VR mobile application and users using the VR platform. The plurality of user identifiers are sorted on a wait list based on an elapsed wait time associated with each user. The example method also includes causing display of a graphical assistance pod, and responsive to its activation, displaying a user interface to present tools usable selectable by a support representative for managing interactions with the plurality of users. The example method further includes establishing a secure communication channel between the support representative and the at least one of the plurality of users using the non-VR mobile application.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer implemented method for managing communications between avatar users of a 3D virtual world platform and a mobile application user, comprising:
 receiving, through a mobile application executing on a mobile device, a selection by the mobile application user of a virtual room established by the platform;   causing presentation, through the mobile device via the mobile application, of a communication interface that facilitates communication between the mobile application user and an avatar user associated with the virtual room via a secure communication channel;   causing presentation, through a computing device via the platform, of the virtual room, the virtual room including a display of one or more user identifiers corresponding to one or more users waiting to interact with one or more avatar users;   causing presentation, through the computing device via the platform, a graphical pod;   receiving, through the computing device, input provided by the avatar user to activate the graphical pod;   responsive to activation of the graphical pod, causing activation of a user interface that automatically presents one or more selectable tools usable by the avatar user for managing interactions with the mobile application user that has selected the virtual room;   receiving, through the computer device, a selection made by the avatar user after activating the graphical pod to communicate with the mobile application user via the secure communication channel; and   establishing the secure communication channel between the avatar user using the platform and the user using the mobile application.   
     
     
         22 . The computer implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the mobile application user is a first user and wherein the one or more users waiting to interact with one or more avatar users include the first user and a second user, the second user being an avatar user of the platform. 
     
     
         23 . The computer implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein activation of the graphical pod comprises detecting the avatar user navigating a first avatar into a boundary of the graphical pod. 
     
     
         24 . The computer implemented method of  claim 23 , wherein the graphical pod is configured such that at least a second avatar user can direct at least a second avatar to enter the graphical pod in which the first avatar has entered. 
     
     
         25 . The computer implemented method of  claim 24 , further comprising responsive to detecting that the at least a second avatar has entered the graphical pod, causing display of profile information of the mobile application user via a user interface to the at least a second avatar user. 
     
     
         26 . The computer implemented method of  claim 21 , further comprising sorting within a wait list, a plurality of identifiers corresponding to users waiting to interact with one or more avatar users, the sorting based, at least in part, on elapsed wait time associated with each of the users to which the identifiers correspond. 
     
     
         27 . The computer implemented method of  claim 21 , further comprising activating a visible indicator of the graphical pod in the virtual room to indicate that the avatar user is engaged in communication with the mobile application user. 
     
     
         28 . The computer implemented method of  claim 27 , wherein the visible indicator aligns with a boundary of the graphical pod. 
     
     
         29 . The computer implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein said reception of the selection of the virtual room initiates a request for a selected virtual room's resources configuration and associated current wait time data. 
     
     
         30 . The computer implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the secure communication channel is a secure voice communication channel. 
     
     
         31 . The computer implemented method of  claim 21 , further comprising causing presentation of user profile information including at least one of call history, contact history, or notes associated with the mobile application user via the user interface. 
     
     
         32 . A computer implemented method, comprising:
 causing presentation of a virtual room of a 3D virtual world platform including a graphical pod;   receiving input provided by an avatar user of the platform to activate the graphical pod, and where, upon activation of the graphical pod, credentials of the avatar user are automatically verified for the platform;   causing display of a user interface to automatically present tools selectable by the avatar user for managing interactions with a plurality of users, at least one of the plurality of users being a mobile application user using a mobile application in communication with the platform;   subsequent to the display of the user interface, receiving a selection made by the avatar user to communicate with the mobile application user; and   establishing a secure communication channel between the avatar user and the mobile application user.   
     
     
         33 . The computer implemented method of  claim 32 , further comprising causing presentation, responsive to establishment of the secure communication channel, of profile information of the mobile application user to the avatar user. 
     
     
         34 . The computer implemented method of  claim 32 , wherein activation of the graphical pod comprises detecting the avatar user navigating a first avatar into a boundary of the graphical pod. 
     
     
         35 . The computer implemented method of  claim 34  wherein the avatar user is a first avatar user, further comprising detecting a second avatar user navigating a second avatar into the boundary of the graphical pod. 
     
     
         36 . The computer implemented method of  claim 35  wherein when the second avatar enters the boundary of the graphical pod, a user interface displays profile information of the mobile application user to the second avatar user. 
     
     
         37 . The computer implemented method of  claim 32 , further comprising activating a visible indicator of the graphical pod to indicate that the avatar user is engaged in communication with the mobile application user. 
     
     
         38 . The computer implemented method of  claim 37  wherein the visible indicator aligns with a boundary of the graphical pod. 
     
     
         39 . The computer implemented method of  claim 32 , wherein the secure communication channel is a secure voice communication channel. 
     
     
         40 . The computer implemented method of  claim 32 , further comprising causing presentation, responsive to establishment of the secure communication channel, of at least one of contact history, call history, or notes associated with the mobile application user.