Method and apparatus for ascertaining the status of multiple devices simultaneously over a data bus

摘要

Techniques are provided for simultaneously ascertaining the status of a plurality of devices coupled to a data bus. A master device transmits at least one status request message over the data bus to a plurality of slave devices. In response, the plurality of slave devices transmit to the master device a status indicator message including a plurality of status indicators indicating statuses of the plurality of slave devices. The master device receives the status indicator message and ascertains the status of at least some of the plurality of slave devices by examining the status indicators. The status request message and/or status indicator message may be a message defined according to a protocol associated with the data bus. The data bus may, for example, be a serial data bus such as an I²C bus.