Apparatus and method utilizing an AC adaptor port for event triggering

An apparatus for triggering an electronic device, the apparatus having a first operational mode and an independent second operational mode, the apparatus comprising:

• an AC adaptor port that accepts power from an external power source while the apparatus is in the first operational mode, and that accepts a signal from an external trigger source while the apparatus is in the second operational mode, such that the AC adaptor port is an interface port for the electronic device and the external trigger source.

An AC adaptor port apparatus for an electronic device comprising:

• a first operational mode, wherein the apparatus accepts power from an external power source for the electronic device;
• and
• an independent second operational mode, wherein the apparatus acts as a trigger source interface port that accepts and processes a signal from an external trigger source for triggering an action by the electronic device.

A method of triggering an electronic device to perform an action at a location remote to a user of the device, the device having an AC adaptor port, the method comprising the steps of:

• setting an operational mode for the device to either a trigger mode or a non trigger mode, wherein in non trigger mode, the AC adaptor port serves as a power supply port and receives a power signal, and wherein in the trigger mode, the AC adaptor port serves as a trigger source interface port and receives a signal from an external trigger source;
• and
• triggering the device to perform the action when a predefined signal event occurs in the signal from the external trigger source and the operational mode is set to trigger mode.

An electronic device having an AC adaptor port comprising:

• a first operational mode where the AC adaptor port receives a power signal from an external power source;
• and
• a second operational mode where the AC adaptor port receives a signal from an external event trigger source, such that upon an occurrence of a predefined signal event, the second mode will trigger the device to perform an action.

An electronic device that is triggerable by an external event trigger source and having a first mode and a second mode, the device comprising:

• an AC adaptor port, the AC adaptor port providing power to the device while the device is in the first mode, and the AC adaptor port providing an event trigger interface port while the device is in the second mode.