A method significantly reduces the average power for radio communication
in a communication system, such as a system that has applications
requiring low communication latency. The method may use a low power radio
communication circuit (e.g., a non-heterodyne receiver) to wait for a
communication request, taking advantage of the low power consumption of
the radio communication circuit. Subsequent to receiving and validating
the communication request, the communication system may switch to a more
efficient--but higher power--communication circuit. Thus, effective
communication is achieved without making undesirable tradeoffs, such as
reduced sensitivity.