Patent ID: 8434010
Filing Date: 2013-04-30
Classification: G06F,G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A computer implemented method for displaying standardized icons in electronic media, comprising: determining, based on a user registry, one or more icons permitted to be used by an individual when the individual creates an electronic message, the user registry associating the individual with the one or more icons the individual is permitted to use based on criteria associated with the one or more icons; authenticating, based on the criteria associated with the one or more icons, that the individual is approved to use an icon selected by the individual for use in the message; at least one of selectively and automatically appending, based on the authenticating that the individual is approved, the icon selected by the individual to the electronic message; determining that a particular icon is appended to the electronic message by comparing data in the electronic message to data definitions of icons stored in a database or an icon definition file; determining that the individual is not approved to use the icon appended to the electronic message by comparing the particular icon to the one or more icons permitted to be used by the individual; and automatically preventing the electronic message from being sent when it is determined that the individual is not approved to use the icon appended to the electronic message, wherein: