diff --git a/helpers/lbryApi.js b/helpers/lbryApi.js
index e1ca554e..8a09f13e 100644
--- a/helpers/lbryApi.js
+++ b/helpers/lbryApi.js
@@ -37,7 +37,35 @@ function orderTopClaims(claimsListArray){
 	return claimsListArray;
 }
 
+function getClaimWithUri(uri, resolve, reject){
+	console.log(">> making get request to lbry daemon")
+	axios.post('http://localhost:5279/lbryapi', {
+			method: "get",
+			params: { uri: uri }
+		}
+	).then(function (getUriResponse) {
+		console.log(">> 'get claim' success...");
+		//check to make sure the daemon didn't just time out
+		if (getUriResponse.data.result.error === "Timeout"){
+			reject("get request to lbry daemon timed out");
+		}
+		console.log(">> response data:", getUriResponse.data);
+		console.log(">> dl path =", getUriResponse.data.result.download_path)
+		// resolve the promise with the download path for the claim we got
+		/* 
+			note: put in a check to make sure we do not resolve until the download is actually complete 
+		*/
+		resolve(getUriResponse.data.result.download_path);
+	}).catch(function(getUriError){
+		console.log(">> 'get' error:", getUriError.response.data);
+		// reject the promise with an error message
+		reject(getUriError.response.data.error.message);
+		return;
+	});
+}
+
 module.exports = {
+
 	publishClaim: function(publishObject){
 		axios.post('http://localhost:5279/lbryapi', publishObject)
 		.then(function (response) {
@@ -56,93 +84,81 @@ module.exports = {
 			//res.status(500).send(JSON.stringify({msg: "your file was not published", err: error.response.data.error.message}));
 		})
 	},
-	serveClaimBasedOnNameOnly: function(claimName, res){
-		// make a call to the daemon to get the claims list 
-		axios.post('http://localhost:5279/lbryapi', {
-				method: "claim_list",
-				params: {
-					name: claimName
-				}
-			}
-		).then(function (response) {
-			console.log(">> Claim_list success");
-			console.log(">> Number of claims:", response.data.result.claims.length)
-			// return early if no claims were found
-			if (response.data.result.claims.length === 0){
-				res.status(200).sendFile(path.join(__dirname, '../public', 'noClaims.html'));
-				return;
-			}
-			// filter the claims to return free, public claims 
-			var freePublicClaims = filterForFreePublicClaims(response.data.result.claims);
-			// return early if no free, public claims were found
-			if (!freePublicClaims || (freePublicClaims.length === 0)){
-				res.status(200).sendFile(path.join(__dirname, '../public', 'noClaims.html'));
-				return;
-			}
-			// order the claims
-			var orderedPublcClaims = orderTopClaims(freePublicClaims);
-			// create the uri for the first (selected) claim 
-			console.log(">> ordered free public claims", orderedPublcClaims);
-			var freePublicClaimUri = "lbry://" + orderedPublcClaims[0].name + "#" + orderedPublcClaims[0].claim_id;
-			console.log(">> your free public claim uri:", freePublicClaimUri);
-			// fetch the image to display
-			axios.post('http://localhost:5279/lbryapi', {
-					method: "get",
-					params: {
-						uri: freePublicClaimUri
-					}
-				}
-			).then(function (getResponse) {
-				console.log(">> 'get claim' success...");
-				console.log(">> response data:", getResponse.data);
-				console.log(">> dl path =", getResponse.data.result.download_path)
-				// return the claim we got 
-				res.status(200).sendFile(getResponse.data.result.download_path);
-			}).catch(function(getError){
-				console.log(">> /c/ 'get' error:", getError.response.data);
-				res.status(500).send(JSON.stringify({msg: "An error occurred while fetching the free, public claim by URI.", err: getError.response.data.error.message}));
+
+	getClaimBasedOnNameOnly: function(claimName){
+		// 1. create a promise
+		var deferred = new Promise(function (resolve, reject){
+			// 2. code to resolve or reject the promise
+			// make a call to the daemon to get the claims list 
+			axios.post('http://localhost:5279/lbryapi', {  // receives a promise
+				method: "claim_list", 
+				params: { name: claimName }
 			})
-		}).catch(function(error){
-			console.log(">> /c/ error:", error.response.data);
-			res.status(500).send(JSON.stringify({msg: "An error occurred while getting the claim list.", err: error.response.data.error.message}));
-		})
+			.then(function (response) {
+				console.log(">> Claim_list success");
+
+				var claimsList = response.data.result.claims;
+				console.log(">> Number of claims:", claimsList.length)
+				
+				// return early if no claims were found
+				if (claimsList.length === 0){
+					reject("no claims were found");
+					console.log("exiting due to lack of claims");
+					return;
+				}
+				
+				// filter the claims to return only free, public claims 
+				var freePublicClaims = filterForFreePublicClaims(claimsList);
+
+				// return early if no free, public claims were found
+				if (!freePublicClaims || (freePublicClaims.length === 0)){
+					reject("no free, public claims were found");
+					console.log("exiting due to lack of free or public claims");
+					return;
+				}
+
+				// order the claims
+				var orderedPublcClaims = orderTopClaims(freePublicClaims);
+
+				// create the uri for the first (selected) claim 
+				console.log(">> ordered free public claims", orderedPublcClaims);
+				var freePublicClaimUri = "lbry://" + orderedPublcClaims[0].name + "#" + orderedPublcClaims[0].claim_id;
+				console.log(">> your free public claim uri:", freePublicClaimUri);
+
+				// fetch the image to display
+				getClaimWithUri(freePublicClaimUri, resolve, reject);
+
+			})
+			.catch(function(error){
+				console.log(">> error:", error);
+				// reject the promise with an approriate message
+				reject(error.response.data.error);
+				return;
+			});
+		});
+		// 3. return the promise
+		return deferred;
+		
 	},
-	serveClaimBasedOnUri: function(uri, res){  
+
+	getClaimBasedOnUri: function(uri){  
 		/* 
 			to do: need to pass the URI through a test (use 'resolve') to see if it is free and public. Right now it is jumping straight to 'get'ing and serving the asset.
 		*/
-		console.log(">> your uri:", uri);
-		// fetch the image to display
-		axios.post('http://localhost:5279/lbryapi', {  // to do: abstract this code to a function that can be shared
-				method: "get",
-				params: {
-					uri: uri
-				}
-			}
-		).then(function (getResponse) {
-			console.log(">> 'get claim' success...");
-			console.log(">> response data:", getResponse.data);
-			console.log(">> dl path =", getResponse.data.result.download_path)
-			/* 
-				to do: make sure the file has completed downloading before serving back the file 
-			*/
-			// return the claim we got 
-			res.status(200).sendFile(getResponse.data.result.download_path);
+		var deferred = new Promise(function (resolve, reject){
+			console.log(">> your uri:", uri);
+			// fetch the image to display
+			getClaimWithUri(uri, resolve, reject);
+		});
+		return deferred;
 
-			/* delete the file after a certain amount of time? */
-
-		}).catch(function(error){
-			console.log(">> /c/ 'get' error:", error.response.data);
-			res.status(500).send(JSON.stringify({msg: "an error occurred", err: error.response.data.error.message}));
-		})
 	},
-	serveAllClaims: function(claimName, res){
+
+	serveAllClaims: function(claimName, res){  // note: work in progress
 		// make a call to the daemon to get the claims list 
 		axios.post('http://localhost:5279/lbryapi', {
 				method: "claim_list",
-				params: {
-					name: claimName
-				}
+				params: { name: claimName }
 			}
 		).then(function (response) {
 			console.log(">> Claim_list success");
@@ -163,7 +179,10 @@ module.exports = {
 			// order the claims
 			var orderedPublicClaims = orderTopClaims(freePublicClaims);
 			// serve the response
-			res.status(200).send(orderedPublicClaims); //to do: rather than returning json, serve a page of all these claims 
+			/*
+				to do: rather than returning json, serve a page of all these claims 
+			*/
+			res.status(200).send(orderedPublicClaims); 
 		}).catch(function(error){
 			console.log(">> /c/ error:", error.response.data);
 			// serve the response
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index c5793764..38ad5ab0 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
     "body-parser": "^1.17.1",
     "connect-multiparty": "^2.0.0",
     "express": "^4.15.2",
-    "nodemon": "^1.11.0"
+    "nodemon": "^1.11.0",
+    "socket.io": "^2.0.1"
   }
 }
diff --git a/public/claim.html b/public/claim.html
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..129b7fa4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/claim.html
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html lang="en">
+<head>
+	<meta charset="UTF-8">
+	<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
+	<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="ie=edge">
+	<title>Spee.ch Claim</title>
+</head>
+<body>
+	<div id="image">
+		<h1>spee.ch</h1>
+		<p>spee.ch is a single-serving site that reads and publishes images to and from the <a href="https://lbry.io">LBRY</a> blockchain.</p>
+		<h3>Status:</h3>
+		<p id="status">Your image is being retrieved</p>
+	</div>
+	<script src="/socket.io/socket.io.js"></script>
+	<script>
+		var socket = io();
+		var url = document.URL.substring(document.URL.indexOf('3000/') + 5);
+		// request the claim through the socket
+		socket.emit("claim-request", url);
+		// listen for updates
+		socket.on("claim-update", function(data){
+			console.log("data:", data);
+			document.getElementById("status").innerHTML = data;
+		})
+		// receive the claim through the socket
+		socket.on("claim-send", function(data){
+			if (data.image) {
+				var base64Image = 'data:image/jpeg;base64,' + data.buffer;
+				document.getElementById("image").innerHTML = '<img src="' + base64Image + '"/>';
+			}
+		})
+	</script>
+</body>
+</html>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/public/eagle.jpg b/public/eagle.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cb736738
Binary files /dev/null and b/public/eagle.jpg differ
diff --git a/public/index.html b/public/index.html
index d6561367..d5af3d08 100644
--- a/public/index.html
+++ b/public/index.html
@@ -23,9 +23,11 @@
 		<br/>
 		<img src="" height="200" alt="Image preview..."/>
 		<br/>
+		Name: <input type="text" name="name" value="name"/>
+		<br/>
 		Title: <input type="text" name="title" value="title"/>
 		<br/>
-		Description: <input type="text" name="description" value="description"/>
+		Description: <input type="text" name="description" value="I love spee.ch!"/>
 		<br/>
 		Author: <input type="text" name="author" value="author"/>
 		<br/>
@@ -36,9 +38,9 @@
   			<option value="Public Domain">Public Domain</option>
 		</select>
 		<br/>
-		NSFW: <select type="text" name="nsfw" value="nsfw">
+		NSFW: <select type="text" name="nsfw" value="false">
+			<option value="false">False</option>
 			<option value="true">True</option>
-  			<option value="false">False</option>
 		</select>
 		<br/>
 		<button type="submit">Submit</button>
@@ -101,6 +103,9 @@
 		previewFile();  //calls the function named previewFile()
 
 	</script>
-
+	<script src="/socket.io/socket.io.js"></script>
+	<script>
+		var socket = io();
+	</script>
 </body>
 </html>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/routes/html-routes.js b/routes/html-routes.js
index 2f358a86..3f32294f 100644
--- a/routes/html-routes.js
+++ b/routes/html-routes.js
@@ -6,6 +6,27 @@ var multipartMiddleware = multipart();
 var lbryApi = require('../helpers/lbryApi.js');
 var queueApi = require('../helpers/queueApi.js');
 
+// helper functions
+function createPublishObject(req){
+	var publishObject = {
+		"method":"publish", 
+		"params": {
+			"name": req.body.name,
+			"file_path": req.files.file.path,
+			"bid": 0.1,
+			"metadata":  {
+				"description": req.body.description,
+				"title": req.body.title,
+				"author": req.body.author,
+				"language": req.body.language,
+				"license": req.body.license,
+				"nsfw": req.body.nsfw
+			}
+		}
+	};
+	return publishObject;
+}
+
 // routes to export
 module.exports = function(app){
 	// route to fetch one free public claim 
@@ -15,30 +36,10 @@ module.exports = function(app){
 	});
 	// route to publish a new claim
 	app.post("/publish", multipartMiddleware, function(req, res){
-		// receive the request 
 		console.log(" >> POST request on /publish");
-		//console.log(">> req.files:", req.files)
-		console.log(" >> req.body:", req.body)
-		
 		// build the data needed to publish the file
-		var publishObject = {
-			"method":"publish", 
-			"params": {
-				"name": req.body.title,
-				"file_path": req.files.file.path,
-				"bid": 0.1,
-				"metadata":  {
-					"description": req.body.description,
-					"title": req.body.title,
-					"author": req.body.author,
-					"language": req.body.language,
-					"license": req.body.license,
-					"nsfw": req.body.nsfw.value
-				}
-			}
-		};
-		//console.log(">> publishObject:", publishObject)
-
+		var publishObject = createPublishObject(req);
+		console.log("publish", publishObject);
 		// post the task to the que
 		queueApi.addNewTaskToQueue(JSON.stringify({
 			type: 'publish',
@@ -46,7 +47,6 @@ module.exports = function(app){
 		}));
 		// respond to the client that the task has been queued
 		res.status(200).sendFile(path.join(__dirname, '../public', 'publishingClaim.html'));
-		
 	});
 	// route to fetch one free public claim 
 	app.get("/:name/all", function(req, res){
@@ -56,23 +56,21 @@ module.exports = function(app){
 	});
 	// route to fetch one free public claim 
 	app.get("/:name/:claim_id", function(req, res){
-    	var uri = "lbry://" + req.params.name + "#" + req.params.claim_id;
-		console.log(">> GET request on /" + uri);
-		lbryApi.serveClaimBasedOnUri(uri, res);
+		console.log(">> GET request on /" + req.params.name + "#" + req.params.claim_id);
+		res.status(200).sendFile(path.join(__dirname, '../public', 'claim.html'));
 	});
 	// route to fetch one free public claim 
 	app.get("/:name", function(req, res){
     	var name = req.params.name;
 		console.log(">> GET request on /" + name)
-		// publish a message to the cue
-		// queueApi.addNewTaskToQueue("return claim for " + req.params.name + " ...")
-		// retrieve the claim
-		lbryApi.serveClaimBasedOnNameOnly(name, res);
+		// send page (includes a socket to get the file)
+		res.status(200).sendFile(path.join(__dirname, '../public', 'claim.html'));
 	});
 	// route for the home page
 	app.get("/", function(req, res){
 		res.sendFile(path.join(__dirname, '../public', 'index.html'));
 	});
+
 	// a catch-all route if someone visits a page that does not exist
 	app.use("*", function(req, res){
 		res.sendFile(path.join(__dirname, '../public', 'fourOhfour.html'));
diff --git a/routes/sockets-routes.js b/routes/sockets-routes.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..51bbbb0a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/routes/sockets-routes.js
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+module.exports = function(app) {
+	var http = require('http').Server(app);
+	var io = require('socket.io')(http);
+	var fs = require('fs');
+	var path = require('path');
+	var lbryApi = require('../helpers/lbryApi.js');
+
+	function sendTheImage(socket, filePath){
+		fs.readFile(filePath, function(err, buff){
+			if (err) {
+				console.log("socket: fs err:", err);
+				return;
+			};
+			//console.log("buff", buff);
+			socket.emit('claim-send', { image: true, buffer: buff.toString('base64') });
+			console.log('socket: the image file has been sent via sockets');
+		});
+	}
+
+	io.on('connection', function(socket){
+		console.log('a user connected');
+		
+		// serve an image file from the server
+		socket.on('claim-request', function(query){
+			// 1. retrieve the image from lbry via daemon
+			console.log("socket: received claim request for:", query)
+			if (query.indexOf("/") === -1){
+				var promise = lbryApi.getClaimBasedOnNameOnly(query)
+			} else {
+				var uri = query.replace("/", "#");
+				var promise = lbryApi.getClaimBasedOnUri(uri)
+			}
+			promise.then(function(data){
+				console.log("socket: claim-request - success:", data)
+				// 3. serve the image back once it is retrieved
+				sendTheImage(socket, data);
+				return;
+			})
+			.catch(function(error){
+				console.log("socket: claim-request - error:", error)
+				// handle the error
+				socket.emit("claim-update", error);
+				return;
+			});
+				
+			// 2. emit updates as the image is being retrieved
+			socket.emit("claim-update", "We are getting your claim for " + query);
+		})
+
+		// handle disconnect
+		socket.on('disconnect', function(){
+			console.log('user disconnected');
+		});
+	});
+
+	return http;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/server.js b/server.js
index b812f4cb..5872b342 100644
--- a/server.js
+++ b/server.js
@@ -2,19 +2,29 @@
 var express = require('express');
 var bodyParser = require('body-parser');
 var path = require('path');
+
 // set port
 var PORT = 3000;
-// initialize express
+
+// initialize express app
 var app = express();
+
 // make express look in the public directory for assets (css/js/img)
 app.use(express.static(__dirname + '/public'));
-// configure epress
+
+// configure express app
 app.use(bodyParser.json());  // for parsing application/json
 app.use(bodyParser.urlencoded({ extended: true })); // for parsing application/x-www-form-urlencoded
-// require in routes
+
+// require express routes
 require("./routes/api-routes.js")(app);
 require("./routes/html-routes.js")(app);
+
+// include socket.io functionality
+// this wraps the server in sockets, to intercept incoming sockets requests
+var http = require("./routes/sockets-routes.js")(app);
+
 // start server
-app.listen(PORT, function() {
+http.listen(PORT, function() {
 	console.log("Listening on PORT " + PORT);
 });