Patent ID: 8451858

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a first protocol module coupled to support a first communication with a first device, wherein a first communication protocol is utilized for the first communication between the first device and the apparatus; and a second protocol module coupled to support a second communication with a second device, wherein a second communication protocol is utilized for the second communication between the second device and the apparatus, in which the first communication and the second communication occur via a shared medium; wherein at least one of the protocol modules to: determine a first protocol probable active time period for the first communication by measuring a plurality of active time periods for transferring packet data between the first device and the apparatus using the first communication protocol and performing a probability function upon the plurality of active time periods to derive the first protocol probable active time period; determine a first protocol probable inactive time period for the first communication by measuring a plurality of inactive time periods in which packet data transfer does not occur between the first device and the apparatus when using the first communication protocol and performing a probability function upon the plurality of inactive time periods to derive the first protocol probable inactive time period; generate a transmit blocking indication to the second device, in order to block a downstream transmission from the second device to the apparatus using the second communication protocol from occurring at a same time as an upstream transmission from the first device to the apparatus using the first communication protocol, wherein the transmit blocking indication is generated based on the first protocol probable active and inactive time periods.