A method of efficient scheduling for portable devices communicating with a coordinator over a network is disclosed. The method includes: listening for beacons broadcasted by a coordinator; assigning, by the coordinator, a single contiguous time block (CTB) for portable devices during a superframe defined by consecutive beacons; scheduling a single wake period of one of the portable devices, which overlaps inclusively with consecutive beacons and the single CTB; and minimizing duration of the single wake period of the portable device. The single CTB may be arranged next to one of the consecutive beacons. The method may further comprise assigning, by the coordinator, a single random access time block (RATB) for the one of the portable devices so as to overlap with the single wake period. The RATB may be arranged next to one of consecutive beacons. The CTB may be arranged next to the RATB. The CTB may be arranged next to one of the consecutive beacons.