Abstract: A coordinator for coordinating the use of a physical layer between a first network operating using a first network protocol and a second network operating using a second network protocol different from the first network protocol, the network protocols being non-interoperable and supporting centralized management of nodes by a master device in each network respectively, including a receiver, a transmitter, a coordinator first network type device (CNTD1) and a coordinator second network type device (CNTD2), both coupled with the receiver and the transmitter, and a synchronizer and coordinator (SAC) coupled with the CNTD1 and CNTD2, the SAC including a required resources determinator, for determining the required resources of both networks for the next transmission cycle and for providing the required resources of one network to the other, wherein the master device of one network allocates resources to the other network and vice-versa.

Abstract: Method for coordinating the use of a physical layer between a first network and a second network sharing the physical layer, the first network including at least one device operating using a first network protocol, the second network including at least one device operating using a second network protocol different from the first network protocol, a device in the first network not communicating with a device in the second network, including the procedures of determining required resources of the first network, determining required resources of the second network, requesting the required resources of the first network from a master device of the second network, requesting the required resources of the second network from a master device of the first network, allocating resources to the first network, by the master device of the second network, and allocating resources to the second network by the master of the first network.