Combination cordless telephone and remote control for entertainment equipment

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a cordless communication and control device having a handset that includes communications equipment and remote control equipment.
The communications equipment provides cordless telephone functionality, and the remote control equipment provides for remote control of one or more entertainment appliances.
The handset also includes a mode controller in communication with the communications equipment and the remote control equipment.
The mode controller provides at least one convenience mode.
When a convenience mode is active, the mode controller responds to detection of an incoming call by automatically limiting utilization of the communications equipment and/or one or more entertainment appliances, based on the active convenience mode.
In a first embodiment, the cordless communication and control device automatically limits the utilization by automatically preventing the communications equipment from producing an audible indication of the incoming call.
In a second embodiment, the cordless communication and control device limits the utilization by automatically causing the remote control equipment to reduce the volume of an entertainment appliance.
All objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description.