Patent ID: 7383372

Claim:
A bus system comprising a first station and a second station coupled by a bus for transferring signals, said bus being arranged to operate according to a protocol in which said first station repeatedly sends requests for data to said second station, said protocol comprising a first mode for transferring said requests in a first request format at a first communication speed and at least a second mode for transferring said requests in a second request format at a second speed, said second station being arranged to receive requests in a mode selected from a group of modes comprising said first and second modes, and being arranged to give a first indication to said first station if it is being arranged to operate according to said first mode and a second indication if it is being arranged to operate according to said second mode, wherein said first station comprises a processor, a controller, and a translator, said processor being operable to generate request properties for requests in said first request format, said controller being operable to generate said requests in said first request format from said request properties, further being operable to transmit said request in said first format to said second station upon detection of said first indication and to forward said request to said translator upon detection of said second indication, and said translator being responsive to said request to start a transaction in said second format directed to said second station.