System and method for sharing images using an image upload menu

Abstract

There is disclosed a system and method for uploading an image file to an image repository from a mobile handheld communications device having an integrated camera. In an embodiment, the method comprises: upon determining capture of an image using the integrated camera, automatically initiating an image upload module; configuring the image upload module to display an image upload user interface having user selectable image upload settings; and upon receiving user instructions, uploading the image file to the image repository with the selected image upload settings. The upload settings may be preselected and the device may be preauthorized to access an account on the image repository.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A processor-implemented method comprising:
 configuring a mobile communication device to implement an enterprise IT policy specifying whether photos captured from a camera associated with the mobile communication device are permitted to be uploaded to an online image repository.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile communication device includes a camera, the method further comprising:
 capturing a photo using the camera; and   when the enterprise IT policy permits a photo to be uploaded from the mobile communication device, uploading the photo.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 associating the mobile communication device with an account on the image repository,   and wherein uploading the photo comprises uploading the photo using the account.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising, when the enterprise IT policy permits a photo to be uploaded from the mobile communication device, displaying a selectable option to upload the photo to the online image repository. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, when the enterprise IT policy indicates that photos are not to be uploaded to the online image repository, configuring comprises disabling image upload functionality on the mobile communication device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein disabling image upload functionality comprises disabling the uploading of photos captured from the camera. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein configuring the mobile communication device comprises configuring a setting associated with a module in memory of the mobile communication device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, when the enterprise IT policy permits a photo to be uploaded from the mobile communication device, upon determining capture of a photo using the camera of the mobile communication device, automatically initiating an image upload module, the image upload module configured to upload photos taken by the camera. 
     
     
         9 . An electronic device comprising:
 a camera;   a communication subsystem;   a processor coupled to the camera and the communication subsystem, the processor configured to configure the electronic device to implement an enterprise IT policy specifying whether photos captured from a camera associated with the electronic device are permitted to be uploaded to an online image repository.   
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 capture a photo using the camera; and   when the enterprise IT policy permits the photo to be uploaded from the electronic device, uploading the photo.   
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 associate the electronic device with an account on the image repository,   and wherein uploading the photo comprises uploading the photo using the account.   
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 when the enterprise IT policy permits a photo to be uploaded from the electronic device, display a selectable option to upload the photo to the online image repository.   
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein, when the enterprise IT policy indicates that photos are not to be uploaded to the online image repository, configuring comprises disabling image upload functionality on the electronic device. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein disabling image upload functionality comprises disabling the uploading of photos captured from the camera. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein configuring the electronic device comprises configuring a setting associated with a module in memory of the electronic device. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 when the enterprise IT policy permits a photo to be uploaded from the mobile communication device, upon determining capture of a photo using the camera of the mobile communication device, automatically initiating an image upload module, the image upload module configured to upload photos taken by the camera.   
     
     
         17 . A machine-readable medium encoded with machine-executable instructions, wherein execution of the machine-executable instructions is for:
 configuring a mobile communication device to implement an enterprise IT policy specifying whether photos captured from a camera associated with the mobile communication device are permitted to be uploaded to an online image repository.   
     
     
         18 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the mobile communication device includes a camera, wherein execution of the machine-executable instructions is also for:
 capturing a photo using the camera; and   when the enterprise IT policy permits a photo to be uploaded from the mobile communication device, uploading the photo.   
     
     
         19 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the mobile communication device includes a camera, wherein execution of the machine-executable instructions is also for:
 associating the mobile communication device with an account on the image repository,   and wherein uploading the photo comprises uploading the photo using the account.   
     
     
         20 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the mobile communication device includes a camera, wherein execution of the machine-executable instructions is also for:
 when the enterprise IT policy permits a photo to be uploaded from the mobile communication device, displaying a selectable option to upload the photo to the online image repository.