Patent ID: 9049161
Filing Date: 2015-06-02
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: receiving, at a server comprising a processor, a message comprising an emoticon, the emoticon being associated with a sound file; linking, by the server, the emoticon with the sound file according to user preferences stored on the server, the linking comprising creating a hash key to the sound file and attaching the hash key to the message, the user preferences indicating that the sound file is chosen to be linked with the emoticon by a sender, the user preferences being periodically updated by the sender, the updating occurring by obtaining different sound files from the server and replacing a set of default sound files that are linked with at least one emoticon and stored in the user preferences; sending, by the server, the emoticon to a recipient; determining, by the server, if the recipient needs the sound file; if the server determines that the recipient needs the sound file and the server has the sound file, forwarding, by the server, the sound file to the recipient; and if the server determines that the recipient needs the sound file and the server does not have the sound file, wherein the sound file is played at the recipient when the emoticon is displayed.