Method and system for intercepting user inputs

Abstract

Systems and methods relating to a keyboard interceptor are disclosed. The keyboard interceptor receives a first input by a user into a keyboard application on a mobile device. A search query is generated based on the first input and data is located based on the search query. The data is associated with a record comprising a record identifier. The keyboard interceptor associates a GUI element of the keyboard application with the record identifier. A second input is received corresponding to selection of the GUI element. A unique tracking link is generated comprising a URL associated with the locate data and an identifier associated with the selection of the GUI element. The unique tracking link is passed to a web browser application executing on the mobile device to access the website. The web browser application stores a cookie comprising the identifier associated with the selection of the GUI element.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a first input by a user into a keyboard application on a mobile device;   generating a search query based on the first input;   locating data based on the search query, wherein the data is associated with a record, the record comprising a record identifier;   associating, within a user interface of the keyboard application, an element of a graphical user interface, GUI, of the mobile device, with the record identifier;   receiving a second input, by the user, corresponding to selection of the element of the GUI;   responsive to receiving the second input, generating a unique tracking link comprising a URL and an identifier associated with the selection of the GUI element, the URL being for a website associated with the located data;   passing the unique tracking link to a web browser application executing on the mobile device, whereby to access the website; and   storing, by the web browser application while accessing the website, a cookie comprising the identifier associated with the selection of the GUI element.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , in which input is entered via one or more fields of the user interface of the keyboard application, the method further comprising determining that the field into which the first input is provided is a field that is designated for one of:
 Uniform Resource Locators; and   internet searches.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein locating the data includes forwarding an application programming interface, API, call to a server. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein generating the unique tracking link comprises forwarding a further API call to the server requesting the unique tracking link, the further API call comprising the record identifier. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein locating the data includes performing a search of a local storage of the mobile device. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the unique tracking link comprises the URL encoded with the identifier associated with the selection of the GUI element. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , in which the first input is text typed by the user, the method further comprising waiting a predetermined amount of time after the user has finished typing before generating the search query. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the data is merchant data, and the URL is a redirect URL for a website associated with the merchant. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the merchant data further comprises:
 a logo associated with the merchant; and   an active deal associated with the merchant,   the associating the element of the GUI with the record identifier comprises displaying the logo associated with the merchant and text indicating the active deal.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the cookie allows the merchant to determine that a purchase has been made by the user. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising receiving a reward issued by the merchant in response to the purchase made by the user. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 responsive to receiving the data, displaying an icon within a user interface of the keyboard application indicating that the data has been located;   receiving a further input, by the user, corresponding to selection of the icon,   wherein displaying the element of the GUI is responsive to receiving the further input.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the identifier associated with the selection of the GUI element is randomly generated. 
     
     
         14 . A keyboard interceptor for a mobile device configured to:
 receive a first input by a user into a keyboard application on the mobile device;   generate a search query based on the first input;   send a request to locate data based on the search query, wherein the data is associated with a record, the record comprising a record identifier;   associate, responsive to receipt of a said record identifier, within a user interface of the keyboard application, an element of a graphical user interface, GUI, of the mobile device with the record identifier;   receive a second input, by the user, corresponding to selection of the element of the GUI;   responsive to receiving the second input, generate a unique tracking link comprising a URL and an identifier associated with the selection of the GUI element, the URL being for a website associated with the data; and   pass the unique tracking link to a web browser application executing on the mobile device, whereby to access the website, wherein the unique tracking link causes the web browser application to store a cookie comprising the identifier associated with the selection of the GUI element.   
     
     
         15 . The keyboard interceptor according to  claim 14 , wherein sending the request to locate data based on the search query comprises forwarding an application programming interface, API, call to a server. 
     
     
         16 . The keyboard interceptor according to  claim 15 , wherein generating the unique tracking link comprises forwarding a further API call to the server requesting the unique tracking link, the further API call comprising the record identifier. 
     
     
         17 . The keyboard interceptor according to  claim 14 , wherein the data is merchant data, and the URL is a redirect URL for a website associated with the merchant. 
     
     
         18 . The keyboard interceptor according to  claim 17 , wherein the merchant data further comprises:
 a logo associated with the merchant; and   an active deal associated with the merchant,   and the associating the element of the GUI with the record identifier comprises displaying the logo associated with the merchant and text indicating the active deal.   
     
     
         19 . A system comprising:
 a keyboard application comprising the keyboard interceptor according to  claim 15 ;   a database comprising a plurality of records, each of the records comprising:   a record identifier;   data; and   a URL for a website associated with the data; and   a server communicatively coupled to the database and configured to locate the data in the database in response to receiving the API call.   
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein the data on the database is merchant data, and the URL is a redirect URL for a website associated with the merchant.