A wireless input device may negotiate a predefined transmit/receive schedule with a receiving device (i.e., PC, PDA, cellular device). To conserve power, the wireless components of the input device are powered down during periods of non-transmission. The wireless input device detects intermediate user input and corresponding data according to a detection rate during periods of non-transmission. The intermediate data is then transmitted to the receiving device during a transmission period along with a current data detected at the time of transmission. The wireless device may further discard any intermediate data which does not reflect a significant change. Additionally, the system and method may include a detection rate that adapts to degrees of user activity detected by the wireless input device.