Master/slave control system and method

摘要

A master/slave control system and method of communicating messages between a master controller and slave devices, especially for use in a vehicle. The system includes a data communication bus, a plurality of slave devices coupled to the data communication bus which are addressable and capable of reading messages broadcast on the data communication bus and broadcasting reply messages to the data communication bus, and a master controller coupled to the data communication bus for broadcasting command messages. The command messages include an address for addressing at least one of the plurality of slave devices and a direction indicator parity bit for identifying the command message. The addressed slave device produces a reply message which includes a reply direction indicating parity bit for identifying the reply message.