US Patent 7949812 Priority arbitration of coexisting wireless topologies

A wireless network device includes a first communication module to communicate with at least one of first devices and a second communication module to communicate with at least one of second devices. An arbitration module receives a request for communication from the first communication module, detects when the second communication module is communicating in a locked mode, and denies request for communication from the first communication module when the second communication module is communicating in the locked mode. Transmission or reception of a packet in the locked mode is not interrupted to avoid loss of the packet. The arbitration module grants the request for communication from the first communication module when the second communication module is communicating in the locked mode and when granting the request for communication from the first communication module does not require stopping the second communication module from communicating in the locked mode.