A method for operating a first device, the first device being in wireless communication with a second device using a communication protocol having polling periods, each polling period having an associated subsequent supplemental period, each supplemental period being at least reserved for reduction of power consumption of the first device or transmission of data from the first device to the second device, the method comprising the steps of: receiving at the first device a first transmission in a first time slot of a first polling period; transmitting by the first device a first response in a second time slot of the first polling period, said first response being responsive to receiving the first transmission; reducing power consumption of the first device during a first supplemental period associated with the first polling period; receiving at the first device a second transmission in a first time slot of a second polling period, the second transmission indicating that the first response was not properly received; transmitting by the first device a second response during a second time slot of the second polling period, said second response being responsive to receiving said second transmission; receiving at the first device a third transmission in a first time slot of a third polling period, said third transmission indicating that a prior response was not properly received; transmitting by the first device a third response in a second time slot of the third polling period, said third response being responsive to receiving the third transmission; maintaining power in the first device during a third supplemental period associated with the third polling period if each of a predetermined number of prior consecutive transmissions indicate that a response was not properly received; and reducing power consumption of the first device in a supplemental period after receiving by the first device another predetermined number of polling period transmissions indicating that a prior response was properly received. receiving at the first device a first transmission in a first time slot of a first polling period; transmitting by the first device a first response in a second time slot of the first polling period, said first response being responsive to receiving the first transmission; reducing power consumption of the first device during a first supplemental period associated with the first polling period; receiving at the first device a second transmission in a first time slot of a second polling period, the second transmission indicating that the first response was not properly received; transmitting by the first device a second response during a second time slot of the second polling period, said second response being responsive to receiving said second transmission; receiving at the first device a third transmission in a first time slot of a third polling period, said third transmission indicating that a prior response was not properly received; transmitting by the first device a third response in a second time slot of the third polling period, said third response being responsive to receiving the third transmission; maintaining power in the first device during a third supplemental period associated with the third polling period if each of a predetermined number of prior consecutive transmissions indicate that a response was not properly received; and reducing power consumption of the first device in a supplemental period after receiving by the first device another predetermined number of polling period transmissions indicating that a prior response was properly received.