Mobile Boarding Pass Auto-Retrieval via Message Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile boarding pass systems require users to locate and click on messages in their inbox to access boarding passes, which is inconvenient and inefficient, especially when network coverage is limited or when access is needed at critical times like boarding a flight.
Innovation Solution
A computerized device with a processor that detects messages, extracts links, and automatically retrieves and stores authentication tokens like boarding passes, enabling instant access based on time or location rules, and supports NFC for easy transmission and display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users manually locate and click messages in inbox to access boarding passes, then the system maintains simple architecture, but user convenience and access speed deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically detecting messages containing boarding pass links, extracting the links, and retrieving the boarding passes in advance. This eliminates the need for users to manually locate and click messages, thereby improving access convenience without requiring complex user interactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automating the entire boarding pass retrieval process. The device automatically detects relevant messages, extracts links, communicates with remote servers, and stores boarding passes locally. This self-service mechanism improves user convenience while keeping the system architecture relatively simple through automated workflows.
2Speed
If boarding passes are retrieved in advance and stored locally, then access speed and availability improve, but device storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential boarding pass information (authentication tokens, barcodes, QR codes) from the original messages and stores them in a condensed format. This extraction approach enables fast local access while minimizing the storage capacity required, as only critical authentication data is retained rather than full message content.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates simplified copies of boarding passes in various formats (image, numeric code, sound, barcode) that are optimized for quick access and display. These compact representations enable rapid retrieval and presentation at gate checkpoints while consuming minimal device storage space compared to storing complete message threads.
3Ease of operation
If the system automatically detects and processes messages, then user convenience improves, but processing time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by selectively processing only specific types of messages (those containing boarding pass links from airlines) rather than all incoming messages. This selective approach reduces overall processing energy consumption while still providing automatic retrieval convenience for relevant boarding passes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuity of useful action by implementing event-based and time-based rules that trigger automatic retrieval only when necessary (e.g., approaching flight time, location-based triggers). This continuous monitoring with conditional execution ensures user convenience while minimizing unnecessary processing energy consumption during periods when boarding passes are not needed.
4Adaptability or versatility
If boarding passes are dynamically generated based on device specifications, then compatibility across different devices improves, but server processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by adapting boarding pass generation to specific device characteristics (screen size, NFC capability, audio output) at the point of retrieval. Different device types receive appropriately formatted boarding passes (display optimization for mobile screens, NFC formats for smartphones with NFC, audio formats for hearing-impaired users) without requiring complex centralized generation logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary device characterization by detecting device type and capabilities during the initial message detection phase. This preliminary information is used to pre-determine the appropriate boarding pass format before retrieval, reducing server processing complexity by avoiding dynamic format switching and enabling more efficient, pre-planned generation strategies.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for retrieving and presenting a boarding pass includes a mobile computer apparatus configured to monitor incoming messages for boarding pass information from an entity issuing a boarding pass and send a request for a boarding pass to a remote server in response to detecting boarding pass information. The request includes the detected boarding pass information and a display characteristic of the mobile computer apparatus. The system further includes a remote server configured to use the boarding pass information to retrieve additional boarding pass information from the entity issuing the boarding pass, in response to receiving the request. The remote server is further configured to generate a new boarding pass formatted for presentation via the mobile computer apparatus based on the display characteristic of the mobile computer apparatus and the boarding pass retrieved from the entity issuing the boarding pass.