diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index 89e4460..16c23a8 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -1,13 +1,16 @@
 # @pushrocks/smartuniverse
+
 messaging service for micro services
 
 ## Availabililty and Links
-* [npmjs.org (npm package)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@pushrocks/smartuniverse)
-* [gitlab.com (source)](https://gitlab.com/pushrocks/smartuniverse)
-* [github.com (source mirror)](https://github.com/pushrocks/smartuniverse)
-* [docs (typedoc)](https://pushrocks.gitlab.io/smartuniverse/)
+
+- [npmjs.org (npm package)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@pushrocks/smartuniverse)
+- [gitlab.com (source)](https://gitlab.com/pushrocks/smartuniverse)
+- [github.com (source mirror)](https://github.com/pushrocks/smartuniverse)
+- [docs (typedoc)](https://pushrocks.gitlab.io/smartuniverse/)
 
 ## Status for master
+
 [![build status](https://gitlab.com/pushrocks/smartuniverse/badges/master/build.svg)](https://gitlab.com/pushrocks/smartuniverse/commits/master)
 [![coverage report](https://gitlab.com/pushrocks/smartuniverse/badges/master/coverage.svg)](https://gitlab.com/pushrocks/smartuniverse/commits/master)
 [![npm downloads per month](https://img.shields.io/npm/dm/@pushrocks/smartuniverse.svg)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@pushrocks/smartuniverse)
@@ -20,13 +23,27 @@ messaging service for micro services
 
 Use TypeScript for best in class instellisense.
 
-### What does smartuniverse all about?
+### What is smartuniverse all about?
 
 Think WhatsApp, but for your microservices architecture. It allows your services to securely talk to each other in **private, shielded channels** without having to expose anything to the outside world. This allows the use of **reactive programming across your entire stack**.
 
+```typescript
+import * as smartuniverse from '@pushrocks/smartuniverse';
+
+const myUniverse = new smartuniverse.Universe({
+  messageExpiryInMilliseconds: 60000 // the standard time in milliseconds until a message expires
+});
+
+// create as many channels as you like
+myUniverse.addChannel('awesomeChannel', 'awesomeChannelPass');
+myUniverse.addChannel('awesomeChannel2', 'jhkjhfsdf87eerkjslkfja9');
+
+myUniverse.start(8765); // start the server and provide the port on which to listen on
+```
+
 For further information read the linked docs at the top of this readme.
 
 > MIT licensed | **©** [Lossless GmbH](https://lossless.gmbh)
-| By using this npm module you agree to our [privacy policy](https://lossless.gmbH/privacy.html)
+> | By using this npm module you agree to our [privacy policy](https://lossless.gmbH/privacy.html)
 
 [![repo-footer](https://pushrocks.gitlab.io/assets/repo-footer.svg)](https://maintainedby.lossless.com)
diff --git a/test/test.ts b/test/test.ts
index 813ae16..0df42fa 100644
--- a/test/test.ts
+++ b/test/test.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@ let testUniverse: smartuniverse.Universe;
 let testUniverseClient: smartuniverse.ClientUniverse;
 let testClientChannel: smartuniverse.ClientUniverseChannel;
 
+const testChannelData = {
+  channelName: 'awesomeTestChannel',
+  channelPass: 'awesomeChannelPAss'
+}
+
 tap.test('first test', async () => {
   testUniverse = new smartuniverse.Universe({
     messageExpiryInMilliseconds: 1000
@@ -15,7 +20,7 @@ tap.test('first test', async () => {
 });
 
 tap.test('add a message to the SmartUniverse', async () => {
-  await testUniverse.initServer(8765);
+  await testUniverse.start(8765);
 });
 
 // testing message handling
@@ -31,7 +36,7 @@ tap.test('should add a channel to the universe', async () => {
 });
 
 tap.test('should get a observable correctly', async () => {
-  testClientChannel = await testUniverseClient.getChannel('testChannel');
+  testClientChannel = await testUniverseClient.getChannel(testChannelData.channelName, testChannelData.channelPass);
   expect(testClientChannel).to.be.instanceof(smartuniverse.ClientUniverseChannel);
 });
 
diff --git a/ts/interfaces/universemessage.interfaces.ts b/ts/interfaces/universemessage.interfaces.ts
index a65ee3d..01ac2b2 100644
--- a/ts/interfaces/universemessage.interfaces.ts
+++ b/ts/interfaces/universemessage.interfaces.ts
@@ -1 +1,7 @@
-export interface IUniverseMessage {}
+export interface IUniverseMessage {
+  messageText: string;
+  targetChannelName: string;
+  passphrase: string;
+  payload?: string | number | any;
+  payloadStringType?: 'Buffer' | 'string' | 'object';
+}
diff --git a/ts/smartuniverse.classes.clientuniverse.ts b/ts/smartuniverse.classes.clientuniverse.ts
index a30b04d..fda1871 100644
--- a/ts/smartuniverse.classes.clientuniverse.ts
+++ b/ts/smartuniverse.classes.clientuniverse.ts
@@ -31,11 +31,8 @@ export class ClientUniverse {
     this.options = optionsArg;
   }
 
-  public async sendMessage(messageArg, payloadArg) {
-    const requestBody: interfaces.IUniverseMessage = {
-      message: messageArg,
-      payload: payloadArg
-    };
+  public async sendMessage(messageArg: interfaces.IUniverseMessage) {
+    const requestBody: interfaces.IUniverseMessage = messageArg;
     const requestBodyString = JSON.stringify(requestBody);
     // TODO: User websocket connection if available
     const response = await plugins.smartrequest.postJson(`${this.options.serverAddress}/sendmessage` , {
diff --git a/ts/smartuniverse.classes.universe.ts b/ts/smartuniverse.classes.universe.ts
index 3dc0b2d..b0bf736 100644
--- a/ts/smartuniverse.classes.universe.ts
+++ b/ts/smartuniverse.classes.universe.ts
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ export class Universe {
   /**
    * initiates a server
    */
-  public async initServer(portArg: number | string) {
+  public async start(portArg: number | string) {
     // lets create the base smartexpress server
     this.smartexpressServer = new plugins.smartexpress.Server({
       cors: true,
diff --git a/ts/smartuniverse.classes.universemessage.ts b/ts/smartuniverse.classes.universemessage.ts
index 2e68b52..15c6c19 100644
--- a/ts/smartuniverse.classes.universemessage.ts
+++ b/ts/smartuniverse.classes.universemessage.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import * as plugins from './smartuniverse.plugins';
+import * as interfaces from './interfaces';
 
 import { Objectmap } from '@pushrocks/lik';
 
@@ -11,7 +12,7 @@ import { UniverseCache } from './smartuniverse.classes.universecache';
  * represents a message within a universe
  * acts as a container to save message states like authentication status
  */
-export class UniverseMessage {
+export class UniverseMessage implements interfaces.IUniverseMessage {
   /**
    * public and unique id
    * numeric ascending