Communication device with history based alerts and method therefor

1. A communication device comprising:

a transceiver for receiving at least one call;

a first memory for storing a plurality of call source identifiers identifying call sources of a plurality of received calls and further for storing an associated call count for each call source, each call count indicating a quantity of calls previously received from the respective call source;

a second memory for storing a plurality of call quantity categories and a plurality of associated alerts, wherein each call quantity category has an associated alert and wherein the plurality of associated alerts are different from another:

a processor coupled to the transceiver, the first memory, and the second memory, wherein the processor is programmed to:

process a received call including identifying a call source of the received call,

retrieve a call count for the call source from the first memory,

categorize the call count into a call quantity category of the plurality of call quantity categories, and

generate a command signal identifying an alert of the plurality of associated alerts, the alert being associated with the call quantity category; and

an alert circuit, coupled to the processor, for alerting using the alert identified by the processor.

2. A communication device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:

increment the call count for the call source responsive to processing of the received call.

3. A communication device as recited in claim 2 , wherein the processor is further program to:

process a second received call from the call source;

categorize the call source into a second call quantity category of the plurality of call quantity categories based on the incremented call count, the second call quantity category being different than the call quantity category; and

generate a second command signal identifying a second alert associated with the second call quantity category, the second alert being different than the alert; and

wherein the alert circuit is further operable to alert the user of the communication device using the second alert.

4. A communication device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

a display coupled to the processor for providing a visual notification of receipt of the received call.

5. A communication device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:

process a second received call including identifying a second call source of the second received call;

categorize the second call source into a second call quantity category of the plurality of call quantity categories based on the incremented call count; and

generate a second command signal identifying a second alert associated with the second call quantity category; and

wherein the alert circuit is further operable to alert the user of the communication device using the second alert.

6. A communication device as recited in claim 5 , wherein the second call quantity category is different than the call quantity category and the second alert is different than the alert.

7. A communication device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of call quantity categories are independent of the plurality of call sources.

8. A method within a communication device for providing history-based alerts, the method comprising:

receiving a communication call from a call source;

determining a call count for the call source, wherein the call count indicates a quantity of calls previously received from the call source;

categorizing the call count into a call quantity category of a plurality of call quantity categories, the plurality of call quantity categories being associated with a corresponding plurality of alerts, each of the plurality of alerts being different from one another, each call quantity category of the plurality of call quantity categories being associated with a corresponding alert of the plurality of alerts; and

setting an alert of the plurality of alerts corresponding to the call quantity category.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 , further comprising:

determining whether an identifier for the call source is stored in a memory of the communication device prior to determining the call count; and

when the identifier for the call source is determined not to be stored, storing the identifier for the call source in the memory.

10. A method as recited in claim 8 , further comprising:

incrementing the call count associated with the call source.

11. A method as recited in claim 10 , further comprising:

receiving a second communication call from the call source;

determining a second call count for the call source, wherein the second call count is the incremented call count;

categorizing the call source into a second call quantity category of the plurality of call quantity categories based on the second call count, the second call quantity category being different than the call quantity category; and

setting a second alert of the plurality of alerts corresponding to the second call quantity category, the second alert being different than the alert.

12. A method as recited in claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving a second communication call from a second call source;

determining a call count for the second call source, wherein the call count for the second call source is a quantity of calls received from the second call source;

categorizing the second call source into a second call quantity category of the plurality of call quantity categories based on the call count for the second call source; and

setting a second alert of the plurality of alerts corresponding to the second call quantity category.

13. A method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the second call quantity category is different than the call quantity category and the second alert is different than the alert.

14. A method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the plurality of call quantity categories are call source independent.

15. A method within a communication device for providing history-based alerts, the method comprising:

receiving a first communication call including a first caller identification of a first call source;

comparing the first caller identification with each of a plurality of stored caller identifications of each of a plurality of stored call sources stored in a memory;

in the event that the first caller identification matches at least one of the plurality of stored caller identifications:

retrieving a first call count associated with the first call source from the memory;

comparing the first call count with each call quantity range associated with each of a plurality of call quantity categories to identify a first call quantity category, the plurality of call quantity categories being associated with a corresponding plurality of alerts, each of the plurality of alerts being different from one another, each call quantity category of the plurality of call quantity categories being associated with a corresponding alert of the plurality of alerts;

alerting using a first alert associated with the first call quantity category; and

incrementing the first call count; and

in the event that the first caller identification does not match at least one of the plurality of stored caller identifications;

setting the first call count to zero; and

storing the first caller identification and the first call count in the memory;

receiving a second communication call including a second caller identification of a second call source;

comparing the second caller identification with each of the plurality of stored caller identifications;

in the event that the second caller identification matches at least one of the plurality of stored caller identifications:

retrieving a second call count associated with the second call source from the memory;

comparing the second call count with each call quantity range associated with each of the plurality of call quantity categories to identify a second call quantity category;

alerting using a second alert associated with the second call quantity category; and

incrementing the second call count; and

in the event that the second called identification does not match at least one of the plurality of stored caller identifications:

setting the second call count to zero; and

storing the second caller identification and the second call count in the memory.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the second call quantity category is different than the first call quantity category and the second alert is different than the first alert.

17. A method as recited in claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving a third communication call including the first caller identification;

retrieving the first call count from the memory;

comparing the first call count with each call quantity range associated with each of the plurality of call quantity categories to identify a third call quantity category, the third call quantity category being different than the first call quantity category; and

alerting using a third alert associated with the third call quantity category.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the third call quantity category is identical to the second quantity category.

19. A method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the third call quantity category is different than the second call quantity category.

20. A method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the plurality of call quantity categories are independent of the first call source the second call source.