Abstract: A system for providing power over data lines, particularly Ethernet data lines, comprises a network switch including a multiplicity of ports each of which is capable of supplying power in addition to data packets, a controllable power source which is coupled to said ports for supplying power thereto and a processor which is coupled to control the supply of power by the power source. The processor is programmed to guarantee the supply of power to selected ports and to allow or inhibit the supply of power to ports other than the selected ports, having regard to a specified limit on the supply of power by the controllable power source and the total guaranteed power to the selected ports.

Abstract: A method and apparatus determines an uncoded bit error rate pb based on a target symbol error rate ?s. The uncoded bit error rate pb is determined based on a weighted series expansion of the target symbol error rate ?s, comprising weights W that are a function of a maximum number of symbol errors that can be corrected t and a number of symbols in an information field K. The maximum number of symbol errors t and the number of symbols in the information field K is selected such that the uncoded bit error rate pb that produces a symbol error rate that is less than or equal to the target symbol error rate ?s is largest.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing a conference between a first user and a second user. The first user has an audio stream. The second user has an audio stream. The conference has an audio stream. A temporary conference is created. The audio stream of the conference is directed to the sidebar conference. The audio stream of the first user is directed to the temporary conference and the audio stream of the second user is directed to the temporary conference. The audio stream of first user and the audio stream of the second user are only audible to the first user and the second user.

Abstract: A bi-directional communication link has plural channels with respective masters and slaves at respective ends of respective channels, in which each master issues a Master Tx clock, each slave constructs a Slave Rx clock frequency locked to the Master Tx clock, and a Slave Tx clock frequency locked to the Slave Rx clock. A metric processor for each master produces a metric signal indicative of resolution of a signal received by the master from the corresponding slave. A decision processor responsive to the metric processor changes the phase of the Slave Tx clock relative to the Slave Rx clock so as to maximize the metric signal. In one embodiment, the resolution is a resolution between leading and trailing edges of the received signal. In another embodiment, the resolution is a resolution between allowed amplitude levels of the received signal.