You can't accurately predict trends with Pokemon release dates. The longest gap was approximately 3 years between Crystal (Dec. 2000 ) and Ruby/Sapphire (Nov 2003) which makes sense considering the deference between the GBC and GBA and Pokemon waning popularity. Generation 3 was peculiar though. Look at the releases dates.
Ruby/Sapphire (Nov 2002)
FireRed/LeafGreen (January 2004)
Emerald (September 2004)
In a span of 2.5 years, all the Generation 3 games were released (although Y,G/s, and C ere released in a similar amount of time). The games don't different much but they obviously began preparing for the release of Diamond and Pearl early. People often point out that Generation 3 didn't sell that well but that was because the games were released a year after the original GBA launch (March 2001). The Nintendo DS was released in (Nov 2004) Not long after Emerald. So generation 3's selling time was cut short. After this, release dates were somewhat standardized.
Diamond/Pearl (Sept 2006)
Platinum (Sept 2008)
HeartGold/Soulsilver (Sept 2009)
Black/White (Sept 2010)
Black 2/White 2 (June 2012)
X/Y (Oct 2013)
OmegaRuby/AlphaSaphire (Nov 2014)
During Generation 4 and 5, a trend of 2, 1, 1, 2 showed up. Game Freak also mentioned that different subdivisions began working on different games (I believe they mentioned development of X/Y beginning after B/W were released and another section working on Black 2 and White 2). Then we waited 1.5 years for X/Y and another year for OmegaRuby/AlphaSapphire. We can assume that since the release of X/Y, that group that worked on X/Y has been working on "Z"and that the group that worked on OR/AS has begun working on Generation 7 and has a year's worth of progress as of now. I suspect that "Z" will be announced sometime between now and March and be slated for 2016 Summer/Early Fall release date (B2/W2 was released 4 months after it was announced so I suspect "Z" will not be very different). If Generation 7 is to be released on the 3DS I have no doubt that it will be released in Fall or possibly Spring 2017... However I suspect that during E3 2016 or the Spring financial quarter conference thing, the successor to the 3DS will be announced (or the Nintendo NEXT will be explained (some claim that is a family consoles others claim it is a hybrid on home console and handheld) in depth or whatever it is). The 3DS will be 5 years old next February and I assume that it's "successor" will be released in early 2017. This doesn't change much. Generation 7 could be a launch title. It has been rumored that NX development kits have been handed out but since when have they been give out. If it was in early 2014 and we assume Generation 7 will have a 3 year development cycle like X/Y, we could potentially see Gneration 7 as a launch title for the NX. If we are wrong in our assumptions that NX is the successor to the 3DS or that development kits were given out in early 2015, we could see Generation 7 in early 2018. I feel that Game Freak has received a kit by now. I feel that this time though, they will not stall the 3DS lifespan like they did the DS's.