User state-based handling of calls and alerts

1. A method of managing alerts on a mobile electronic communications device, the method comprising:

detecting whether a user of the mobile electronic communications device is in an alert state, is experiencing theta waves in a drowsy state, or is experiencing delta waves in a sleep state; and

if the user is in the alert state, playing one or more held messages using one or more output components of the mobile electronic communications device;

if the user is in the drowsy state, providing at least one preemptive first alert identifying an occurring event that needs to be completed prior to the user falling asleep; and

if the user is in the sleep state determining whether an incoming alert has been received at the mobile electronic communications device when the sleep state associated with the user is detected to be one of a deep sleep state or a light sleep state; and

if the user is in the deep sleep state, holding the incoming alert in memory and then providing the incoming alert when the sleep state of the user changes from the deep sleep state to any sleep state other than the deep sleep state; and

if the user is in the light sleep state, providing the incoming alert;

wherein brain waves occurring during the deep sleep state are of a lower amplitude and within a higher frequency range than other brain waves occurring during the light sleep state.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the at least one preemptive alert is associated with a family member, a household appliance, and household security.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the at least one preemptive alert is of an upcoming scheduled task.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein detecting the drowsy state comprises detecting the theta waves with a brain wave sensing sleep-state sensor device operable with the mobile electronic communications device.

5. The method in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the brain wave sensing sleep-state sensor device is configured as a stretchable wearable cap or net coupling the theta waves to electrical contacts.

6. A method of managing incoming calls on a mobile electronic communications device, the method comprising:

detecting an incoming call at the mobile electronic communications device;

determining a state of a user of the mobile electronic communications device, the state being one of an alert state, a drowsy state, a light sleep state and a deep sleep state, wherein determining the light sleep state or the deep sleep state comprises determining whether the user is experiencing delta waves;

determining whether the incoming call is from a number from which a prior call has been received within a predetermined call window; and one of:

activating an audible device ringer by ringing the audible device ringer of the mobile electronic communications device when the state is other than the deep sleep state;

activating the audible device ringer by ringing the audible device ringer at a progressively louder volume when both:

the state is the deep sleep state; and

the incoming call is from the number from which the prior call has been received within the predetermined call window; and

otherwise, muting the audible device ringer;

wherein brain waves occurring during the deep sleep state are of a lower amplitude and within a higher frequency range than are other brain waves occurring during the light sleep state.

7. The method in accordance with claim 6 , wherein activating the audible device ringer when the user state is the deep sleep state and the incoming call is from the number from which the prior call has been received within the predetermined call window comprises ringing the audible device ringer at the progressively louder volume until either the incoming call is answered or a maximum available volume is reached.

8. The method in accordance with claim 6 , wherein muting the audible device ringer further comprises providing an automated response to a caller associated with the incoming call.

9. The method in accordance with claim 8 , wherein providing an automated response to the caller associated with the incoming call further comprises providing a voicemail prompt to the caller.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9 , wherein providing the voicemail prompt to the caller comprises selecting the voicemail prompt from among available multiple voicemail prompts based on an identity or class of the caller.

11. The method in accordance with claim 10 , wherein selecting the voicemail prompt from among available multiple voicemail prompts based on the identity or class of the caller further comprises determining if the caller is a family member of the user, and selecting a first voicemail prompt if the caller is the family member of the user, and otherwise selecting a second voicemail prompt that is different from the first voicemail prompt.

12. The method in accordance with claim 10 , wherein selecting the voicemail prompt from among available multiple voicemail prompts based on the identity or class of the caller further comprises determining if the caller is a favorited contact on the mobile electronic communications device and selecting the voicemail prompt based on whether or not the caller is the favorited contact on the mobile electronic communications device.

13. A mobile electronic communications device with call and alert management, the mobile electronic communications device comprising:

a network communication link;

a user notification element configured to selectively provide a user-observable signal; and

a processor linked to the user notification element and the network communication link, configured to determine a state of a user of the mobile electronic communications device, the state being one of a light sleep state or a deep sleep state, determine that a process is requesting activation of the user notification element, and activate the user notification element in a manner and at a time selected based on the state of the user, wherein the process requesting activation of the user notification element is a phone function of the mobile electronic communications device associated with an incoming call, and wherein the processor is further configured to:

cause a speaker to not emit sound if the state is a deep sleep state and the incoming call is not a repeat call within a predetermined call window from a user contact; and

cause the speaker to emit sound at a progressively louder volume if the state is the deep sleep state and the incoming call is the repeat call from within the predetermined call window from the user contact to gradually transition the user from the deep sleep state to another state:

wherein brain waves occurring during the deep sleep state are of a lower amplitude and within a higher frequency range than are other brain waves occurring during the light sleep state.

14. The mobile electronic communications device in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the another state is one of an alert state, a drowsy state, or a light sleep state.

15. The mobile electronic communications device in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the speaker to emit the sound at the progressively louder volume if the incoming call is not the repeat call within the predetermined call window from the user contact, but is deemed to be an urgent call based upon a characteristic of the incoming call.

16. The mobile electronic communications device in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the incoming call is deemed to be the urgent call when the incoming call originates from an area code while the time in that area code is between midnight and five AM.

17. The mobile electronic communications device in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to process the incoming call as if the incoming call is the repeat call from within the predetermined call window when the incoming call is deemed to be the urgent call.

18. The mobile electronic communications device in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the incoming call is deemed to be the urgent call when originating from a family member of the user.

19. The mobile electronic communications device of claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured to cause the speaker to emit sound at a progressively louder volume if the state is the deep sleep state and the incoming call is the repeat call from within the predetermined call window from the user contact until the incoming call is answered or a maximum available volume is reached.

20. The mobile electronic communications device of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the speaker to emit the sound using a ring tone that differs from usual ring tones used by the user when the incoming call is deemed to be an urgent call based upon a characteristic of the incoming call.