Patent ID: 8711746

Claim:
A method comprising: detecting, by an apparatus, while in a first communication mode that uses scheduled communication windows that are a sequence of a plurality of periodic windows of variable duration, with each periodic window including a first occurring portion having a first occurring interval and a second occurring portion having a second occurring interval, with communications during the second occurring portion being dependent upon preceding communications during the first portion, with a communication device in the periodic windows, when a number of packets communicated in the first occurring interval within the first portion, exceeds a threshold; changing, by the apparatus, the communication mode from the first communication mode to a second communication mode that uses unscheduled communication with the communication device, if the number of packets communicated in the first occurring interval within the first occurring portion exceeds the threshold, and remaining, by the apparatus, in the first communication mode, if the number of packets communicated in the first occurring interval within the first occurring portion does not exceed the threshold.