A method includes detecting a micro start of frame packet (μSOF) on a data bus. If there is at least one data packet contained in a microframe during the first threshold period after the μSOF, transmitters are held in an active state. If there is no data packet in the first threshold period after the μSOF, the transmitters are transitioned from the active state to an OFF state. The method also includes transitioning the transmitters from the OFF state to the active state prior to a switchback period before the end of the microframe. The method also includes transitioning the transmitters from the OFF state to the active state if a data packet is received in the OFF state. The method also includes dropping the data packet received in the OFF state and transitioning from the OFF state to the active state when the data packet is dropped.