An embodiment allows for context based alerts/alarms. For example, an embodiment may automatically determine that a user is in a meeting with another person based on a meeting entry in the user's calendar. In such a situation the embodiment may divert an incoming phone call, which would ordinarily result in a ring tone, to go directly to voice mail based on the calendar entry. In an embodiment the alert may be delayed until the meeting concludes. Unlike conventional systems, various embodiments do not require a user to change notification rules, manually flip a hardware switch, or create a “Do Not Disturb” setting that allows just a single “silent” time during the day. An embodiment allows data in a calendar to automatically drive the behavior of how a notification panel operates. Other embodiments are described herein.