A computer implemented method for handling the transmission and/or reception of I/O pack input data comprising: transmitting I/O pack input data, I/O pack output data, or both from a first control set configured with a first frame period, wherein the first control set includes one or more first I/O packs and a first controller; receiving the I/O pack input data, the I/O pack output data, or both at a second control set configured with a second frame period, wherein the first and second frame periods are different and wherein the second control set includes one or more second I/O packs and a second controller; modifying a timeout threshold for indicating the amount of time before a timeout indication is triggered, the timeout threshold being based upon the frame period I/O pack to account for the different first and second frame periods; modifying the frame period of the I/O pack input data, the I/O pack output data, or both by the second control set to account for the different first and second frame periods; wherein a mixed-frame rate logic device is configured to handle sharing of I/O pack input data, I/O pack output data, or both when the first frame period is faster than the second frame period, by: determining if a frame number or reference number of frame data of the I/O pack input data, I/O pack output data, or both is a multiple of the second frame period; and discarding any frames that have an associated frame number or reference number of frame data that is not a multiple of the second frame period. transmitting I/O pack input data, I/O pack output data, or both from a first control set configured with a first frame period, wherein the first control set includes one or more first I/O packs and a first controller; receiving the I/O pack input data, the I/O pack output data, or both at a second control set configured with a second frame period, wherein the first and second frame periods are different and wherein the second control set includes one or more second I/O packs and a second controller; modifying a timeout threshold for indicating the amount of time before a timeout indication is triggered, the timeout threshold being based upon the frame period I/O pack to account for the different first and second frame periods; modifying the frame period of the I/O pack input data, the I/O pack output data, or both by the second control set to account for the different first and second frame periods; wherein a mixed-frame rate logic device is configured to handle sharing of I/O pack input data, I/O pack output data, or both when the first frame period is faster than the second frame period, by: determining if a frame number or reference number of frame data of the I/O pack input data, I/O pack output data, or both is a multiple of the second frame period; and discarding any frames that have an associated frame number or reference number of frame data that is not a multiple of the second frame period. determining if a frame number or reference number of frame data of the I/O pack input data, I/O pack output data, or both is a multiple of the second frame period; and discarding any frames that have an associated frame number or reference number of frame data that is not a multiple of the second frame period.