A protection switching system for an electronic device having a plurality of communication line interfaces and a mate device having a plurality of mate communication line interfaces for respectively protecting the plurality of said device interfaces, the system comprising: a device monitor configured to monitor each of the plurality of said device interfaces, and to send interface information to the mate device; a mate device monitor configured to monitor each of the plurality of said mate device interfaces, and to send mate interface information to the electronic device; and a controller configured to select as active interfaces one of each respective pair of the plurality of device interfaces and corresponding mate device interfaces based on at least one of the device interface information and the mate device interface information, characterized in that the device monitor is configured to send the interface information periodically; and in that the mate device monitor is configured to send the mate interface information periodically; and in that the controller is further configured to set to an active state each mate device interface for which the device interface information is not received from the electronic device within a predetermined time, and in that the monitor is further configured to calculate device demerit points based on monitored conditions of the device, and wherein the device and mate device interface information comprises the calculated demerit points, and in that the device information and the mate device information comprise health information indicating monitored health conditions of the electronic device and the mate device using said demerit points, and wherein the controller is configured to control activity of each device interface and corresponding mate device interface such that each interface of the healthiest of the device and the mate device is in an active state. a device monitor configured to monitor each of the plurality of said device interfaces, and to send interface information to the mate device; a mate device monitor configured to monitor each of the plurality of said mate device interfaces, and to send mate interface information to the electronic device; and a controller configured to select as active interfaces one of each respective pair of the plurality of device interfaces and corresponding mate device interfaces based on at least one of the device interface information and the mate device interface information, characterized in that the device monitor is configured to send the interface information periodically; and in that the mate device monitor is configured to send the mate interface information periodically; and in that the controller is further configured to set to an active state each mate device interface for which the device interface information is not received from the electronic device within a predetermined time, and in that the monitor is further configured to calculate device demerit points based on monitored conditions of the device, and wherein the device and mate device interface information comprises the calculated demerit points, and in that the device information and the mate device information comprise health information indicating monitored health conditions of the electronic device and the mate device using said demerit points, and wherein the controller is configured to control activity of each device interface and corresponding mate device interface such that each interface of the healthiest of the device and the mate device is in an active state.