System and method for escalating event alerts

1. A method of controlling event reminders in an electronic communication device, the method comprising:

the electronic communication device enabling an event entry to be stored in the computing device, the event entry having a start time associated therewith;

the electronic communication device enabling a plurality of alerts to be provided at respective times prior to the start time;

the electronic communication device enabling one of a plurality of levels of notification to be associated with each of the plurality of alerts, wherein the plurality of levels are distinguishable from each other to enable the alerts to be escalated by changing the level associated with each subsequent alert;

the electronic communication device providing an initial alert prior to the start time, the initial alert comprising a first level of notification;

the electronic communication device detecting an increased urgency associated with the event entry subsequent to the initial alert;

the electronic communication device providing a next alert prior to the start time, the next alert providing a second level of notification to thereby escalate the next alert with respect to the initial alert;

the electronic communication device detecting an increased urgency associated with the event entry subsequent to the next alert; and

the electronic communication device providing a third alert prior to the start time, the third alert providing a third level of notification to thereby escalate the third alert with respect to the next alert.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

the electronic communication device detecting a similar urgency associated with the event entry subsequent to the next alert; and

the electronic communication device providing the third alert prior to the start time, the third alert providing the first or second level of notification.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the initial alert comprising a snooze option to trigger the next alert, and wherein the increased urgency is detected according to whether or not the snooze option has been selected.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the electronic communication device obtaining external data indicative of external events affecting the event, wherein the increased urgency is detected according to the presence or absence of a particular external event.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the particular external event related to any one or more of traffic information, and weather information.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

the electronic communication device determining a current time; and

the electronic communication device comparing the current time to the start time;

wherein the urgency is increased if the time remaining until the start time is less than a predetermined threshold.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

the electronic communication device determining a device location; and

the electronic communication device comparing the device location to an event location;

wherein the urgency is increased if the distance between the device location and the event location is greater than a predetermined threshold.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the electronic communication device is a mobile device, and wherein the device location is determined using GPS data obtained by the mobile device.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of levels of notification are distinguished from each other using combinations of any one or more of the following: a visual notification, an audible notification comprising one of a plurality of volume levels, and a tactile notification comprising movement of the electronic communication device.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for controlling event reminders in an electronic communication device, the computer readable medium comprising instructions for:

enabling an event entry to be stored in the computing device, the event entry having a start time associated therewith;

enabling a plurality of alerts to be provided at respective times prior to the start time;

enabling one of a plurality of levels of notification to be associated with each of the plurality of alerts, wherein the plurality of levels are distinguishable from each other to enable the alerts to be escalated by changing the level associated with each subsequent alert;

providing an initial alert prior to the start time, the initial alert comprising a first level of notification;

detecting an increased urgency associated with the event entry subsequent to the initial alert;

providing a next alert prior to the start time, the next alert providing a second level of notification to thereby escalate the next alert with respect to the initial alert;

detecting an increased urgency associated with the event entry subsequent to the next alert; and

providing a third alert prior to the start time, the third alert providing a third level of notification to thereby escalate the third alert with respect to the next alert.

11. An electronic communication device comprising a display, one or more input devices, and a processor configured to:

enable an event entry to be stored in the electronic communication device, the event entry having a start time associated therewith;

enable a plurality of alerts to be provided at respective times prior to the start time;

enable one of a plurality of levels of notification to be associated with each of the plurality of alerts, wherein the plurality of levels are distinguishable from each other to enable the alerts to be escalated by changing the level associated with each subsequent alert;

provide an initial alert prior to the start time, the initial alert comprising a first level of notification;

detect an increased urgency associated with the event entry subsequent to the initial alert;

provide a next alert prior to the start time, the next alert providing a second level of notification to thereby escalate the next alert with respect to the initial alert;

detect an increased urgency associated with the event entry subsequent to the next alert; and

provide a third alert prior to the start time, the third alert providing a third level of notification to thereby escalate the third alert with respect to the next alert.

12. The electronic communication device according to claim 11 , further configured to:

detect a similar urgency associated with the event entry subsequent to the next alert; and

provide the third alert prior to the start time, the third alert providing the first or second level of notification.

13. The electronic communication device according to claim 11 , wherein the initial alert comprising a snooze option to trigger the next alert, and wherein the increased urgency is detected according to whether or not the snooze option has been selected.

14. The electronic communication device according to claim 11 , further configured to obtain external data indicative of external events affecting the event, wherein the increased urgency is detected according to the presence or absence of a particular external event.

15. The electronic communication device according to claim 14 , wherein the particular external event related to any one or more of traffic information, and weather information.

16. The electronic communication device according to claim 11 , further configured to:

determine a current time; and

compare the current time to the start time;

wherein the urgency is increased if a time remaining until the start time is less than a predetermined threshold.

17. The electronic communication device according to claim 11 , further configured to:

determine a device location; and

compare the device location to an event location;

wherein the urgency is increased if the distance between the device location and the event location is greater than a predetermined threshold.

18. The electronic communication device according to claim 17 , wherein the electronic communication device is a mobile device, and wherein the device location is determined using GPS data obtained by the mobile device.

19. The electronic communication device according to claim 11 , wherein the plurality of levels of notification are distinguished from each other using combinations of any one or more of the following: a visual notification, an audible notification comprising one of a plurality of volume levels, and a tactile notification comprising movement of the electronic communication device.