Abstract: In accordance with at least one embodiment of the disclosures made herein, monitoring a failure prediction parameter of at least one of the plurality of protected system elements is performed. correlating a present state of the failure prediction parameter to a failure prediction criterion is performed, thus identifying a failure predicted one of a plurality of protected system elements when a failure prediction condition is met. In response to determining protection switching priority as applying to the failure predicted one or the failure predicted one being the only failure predicted system element, downloading service information of the failure predicted one to the protection system element is performed. Failure of the failure predicted one is confirmed. Switching communication service supported by the failure predicted one of the protected system elements for being supported by to the protection system element is performed.

Abstract: Protection systems and methods for electronic devices including at least one communication line interface are disclosed. A switch connected to each interface and a working communication path in an electronic device is adapted for connection to a protection communication path and controllable to connect each interface to either the working communication path or the protection communication path. Inter-device messaging provides for switch control by a protection device connected to the protection communication path, monitoring of devices in a protection group, protection communication path monitoring, and automatic configuration of a protection group.

Abstract: An overhang edge shipping protector is provided that may allow for enhanced protection of an overhang edge during shipping of an item having an overhang edge. The overhang edge shipping protector may include an overhang cavity, one or more side lands and a buttress, all of which may be capable of absorbing and transferring energy from an adverse impact force to more suitable and sturdy locations of the item, such as the sides.

Abstract: An overhang edge shipping protector is provided that may allow for enhanced protection of an overhang edge during shipping of an item having an overhang edge. The overhang edge shipping protector may include an overhang cavity, one or more side lands and a buttress, all of which may be capable of absorbing and transferring energy from an adverse impact force to more suitable and sturdy locations of the item, such as the sides.

Abstract: Protection systems and methods for electronic devices including at least one communication line interface are disclosed. A switch connected to each interface and a working communication path in an electronic device is adapted for connection to a protection communication path and controllable to connect each interface to either the working communication path or the protection communication path. Inter-device messaging provides for switch control by a protection device connected to the protection communication path, monitoring of devices in a protection group, protection communication path monitoring, and automatic configuration of a protection group.

Abstract: One embodiment of the disclosures made herein is a method for facilitating protection switching via failure prediction techniques. In accordance with such a method, an operation for monitoring a failure prediction parameter of at least one of the plurality of protected system elements is performed. During monitoring, an operation is performed for correlating a present state of the failure prediction parameter to a failure prediction criterion for determining whether one of the protected system elements has been met a failure prediction condition, thus identifying a failure predicted one of a plurality of protected system elements when the failure prediction condition is met. An operation is performed for determining whether a protection switching priority among a collection of failure predicted system elements applies to the failure predicted one of the protected system elements.

Abstract: A quick-starting low-voltage DC power supply circuit has a switch mode DC to DC converter connected to a DC supply source. A low-dropout-regulator (LDO) connected in parallel with the switch-mode DC to DC converter, and a diode is connected in series with the output of the low-dropout-regulator connecting the output of the low-dropout-regulator to the output of the switch-mode DC to DC converter. The arrangement is such that the start-up output voltage of the circuit is the output voltage of the low-dropout-regulator and the long-term output voltage of the circuit is supplied by the switch-mode DC to DC converter output.

Abstract: A quick-starting low-voltage DC power supply circuit has a switch mode DC to DC converter connected to a DC supply source. A low-dropout-regulator (LDO) connected in parallel with the switch-mode DC to DC converter, and a diode is connected in series with the output of the low-dropout-regulator connecting the output of the low-dropout-regulator to the output of the switch-mode DC to DC converter. The arrangement is such that the start-up output voltage of the circuit is the output voltage of the low-dropout-regulator and the long-term output voltage of the circuit is supplied by the switch-mode DC to DC converter output.

Abstract: A method of clock recovery from a fast packet switched asynchronous network wherein a time stamp is transmitted over a network that has variable delay, involves maintaining an input counter at a sending device. The counter has a value dependent on an input clock. The value of the input counter is periodically transmitted over the network to a receiving device. A local counter at a receiving device has a value dependent on a local clock. The received value sample x.sub.i is compared with the local sample y.sub.i to derive the difference e.sub.i. The local clock frequency f.sub.j is adjusted such that the average of Emin.sub.j, where Emin.sub.j is the minimum of a block of error samples e.sub.i, remains close to a predetermined value, preferably zero. The clock recovery method is particularly suitable for MPEG2 video transmitted over ATM.