An electronic device includes a housing and one or more processors. At least one proximity sensor component is operable with the one or more processors and can include an infrared signal receiver to receive an infrared emission from an object external to the housing. The one or more processors can receive, with a communication circuit, an incoming communication from a remote communication device and determine whether a person is within a thermal reception radius of the at least one proximity sensor component. Where the person is not within the thermal reception radius, the one or more processors can perform a control operation in response to receiving the incoming communication.