Apparatus and method for handling a message

Abstract

A system for handling automated messages from a travel supplier includes a messaging client configured to receive an automated message generated by a remote travel supplier. The message comprises a link to a web address for completing a travel action associated with the link. A parsing unit configured to extract the link from the automated message, identify the travel action associated with the link, and store the extracted link and a representation of the travel action in a non-volatile memory device.

1 . A method for handling automated messages generated by a travel supplier, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a remote server, an automated message generated by a remote travel supplier, wherein the remote travel supplier is separate from the remote server and wherein the message comprises a link to a web address for completing a travel action associated with the link;   parsing, by the remote server, the automated message, wherein parsing the automated message includes
 extracting the link from the automated message, and 
 identifying the travel action associated with the link; 
   automatically storing the extracted link and a representation of the travel action associated with the link in a non-volatile memory device;   automatically causing a user interface to be displayed on a display of a user device, wherein the user interface prompts a user for feedback regarding whether to perform the travel action; and   automatically performing, by the remote server, the travel action in response to positive user feedback received via the user interface.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting the automated message from the user device in response to a determination that the automated message is a travel-related message,   wherein the extracted link and representation of the travel action associated with the link are stored in a local non-volatile memory of the user device.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein parsing the automated message further includes determining a time for performing the travel action, the method further comprising:
 automatically storing a representation of the time for performing the travel action in a non-volatile memory device,   wherein the user interface is displayed on the display of the user device in response to a determination that a current time is the time for performing the travel action.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the representation of the time for performing the travel action is stored in a trips database accessible by the remote server,
 wherein the determination that the current time is the time for performing the travel action is made by the remote server, and   wherein the remote server automatically performs the travel action in response to a determination that a current time is the time for performing the travel action.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein parsing the automated message further includes extracting pricing information corresponding to the travel action, the method further comprising:
 automatically storing, in a trips database, pricing information extracted from multiple automated messages, wherein information parsed from each automated message is stored as a separate travel event; and   determining whether the travel supplier has changed an offered price by comparing multiple travel events stored in the trips database;   causing a user interface to be displayed on the user device associated with a travel event in response to a determination that the travel supplier has decreased the offered price from the price associated with the travel event,   wherein the user interface prompts a user to cancel the travel event and schedule a new travel event at the decreased price.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the link is a deep-link enabling inputting information included in the link into a specific field of the web address;
 wherein parsing the automated message further includes extracting the information from the link and identifying a field for which the extracted information is designated;   wherein the method further comprises storing the extracted information and an indication of the field for which the extracted information is designated in the non-volatile memory device;   wherein performing the travel action comprises automatically filling the identified field of the web address with the extracted information designated for the identified field.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein parsing the automated message further includes:
 determining whether the automated message includes a plurality of links associated with a single travel action;   selecting one of the plurality of links to extract from the automated message and storing in the non-volatile memory device in response to a determination that the automated message includes a plurality of links associated with a single travel action,   wherein the link selection is based on a characteristic of a device with which the travel action is to be performed.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein performing the travel action comprises:
 determining whether the web address for completing the travel action requires additional information not included in the automated message;   identifying a field of the web address requiring the additional information and a type of additional information required by the identified field in response to a determination that the web address requires additional information not included in the automated message;   retrieving, from a user profile database, the additional information required for completing the travel action; and   automatically filling the identified field using the additional information.   
     
     
         9 . A system for handling automated messages from a travel supplier, the system comprising:
 one or more computer-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon; and   one or more processors that, in response execution of the instructions, are configured to:
 receive an automated message generated by a remote travel supplier, wherein the message comprises a link to a web address for completing a travel action associated with the link; 
 extract the link from the automated message, identify the travel action associated with the link, and automatically store the extracted link and a representation of the travel action associated with the link in a non-volatile memory device; 
 cause a user interface to be displayed on a display of a user device, wherein the user interface prompts a user for feedback regarding whether to perform the travel action; and 
 automatically perform the travel action in response to positive user feedback received via the user interface. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 the user device configured to transmit the automated message to a remote server separate from the remote travel supplier in response to a determination that the automated message is a travel-related message;   wherein the extracted link and representation of the travel action associated with the link are stored in a local non-volatile memory of the user device.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
 determine a time for performing the travel action; and   automatically store a representation of the time for performing the travel action in a non-volatile memory device;   wherein the user interface is displayed on the display of the user device in response to a determination that a current time is the time for performing the travel action.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the representation of the time for performing the travel action is stored in a trips database accessible by the one or more processors;
 wherein the determination that the current time is the time for performing the travel action is made by the one or more processors; and   wherein the one or more processors are configured to automatically perform the travel action in response to the determination that the current time is the time for performing the travel action.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
 extract pricing information corresponding to the travel action; and   automatically store, in a trips database, pricing information extracted from multiple automated messages, wherein information parsed from each automated message is stored as a separate travel event.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
 determine whether the travel supplier has changed an offered price by comparing multiple travel events stored in the trips database; and   cause a user interface to be displayed on the user device associated with a travel event in response to a determination that the travel supplier has decreased the offered price from the price associated with the travel event;   wherein the user interface prompts a user to cancel the travel event and schedule a new travel event at the decreased price.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the link is a deep-link enabling inputting information included in the link into a specific field of the web address;
 wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
 extract the information from the link; 
 identify a field for which the extracted information is designated; 
 store the extracted information and an indication of the field for which the extracted information is designated in the non-volatile memory device; and 
 automatically fill the identified field of the web address with the extracted information designated for the identified field. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
 determine whether the automated message includes a plurality of links associated with a single travel action; and   select one of the plurality of links to extract from the automated message and store in the non-volatile memory device in response to a determination that the automated message includes a plurality of links associated with a single travel action;   wherein the link selection is based on a characteristic of a device with which the travel action is to be performed.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein performing the travel action comprises:
 determining whether the web address for completing the travel action requires additional information not included in the automated message;   identifying a field of the web address requiring the additional information and a type of additional information required by the identified field in response to a determination that the web address requires additional information not included in the automated message;   retrieving, from a user profile database, the additional information required for completing the travel action; and   automatically filling the identified field using the additional information.   
     
     
         18 . One or more computer-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement operations comprising:
 receiving an automated message generated by a remote travel supplier, wherein the message comprises a link to a web address for completing a travel action associated with the link;   extracting the link from the automated message;   identifying the travel action associated with the link;   automatically storing the extracted link and a representation of the travel action associated with the link in a non-volatile memory device;   causing a user interface to be displayed on a display of a user device, wherein the user interface prompts a user for feedback regarding whether to perform the travel action; and   automatically performing the travel action in response to positive user feedback received via the user interface   
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage media of  claim 18 , the operations further comprising:
 determining a time for performing the travel action; and   automatically storing a representation of the time for performing the travel action in a non-volatile memory device;   wherein the user interface is displayed on the display of the user device in response to a determination that a current time is the time for performing the travel action.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage media of  claim 18 , the operations further comprising:
 determining whether the automated message includes a plurality of links associated with a single travel action; and   selecting one of the plurality of links to extract from the automated message and store in the non-volatile memory device in response to a determination that the automated message includes a plurality of links associated with a single travel action;   wherein the link selection is based on a characteristic of a device with which the travel action is to be performed.