Electronic toy with radial independent connector and associated communication protocol

A character for use with a play set comprising a base unit having a data line, the character comprising:

• a housing shaped as a figurine;
• a memory storing a program;
• a processor configured to execute the program;
• and
• a connector configured to couple the processor to the data line of the base unit;
• wherein execution of the program by the processor causes the character to at least:
• obtain a master role after determining based on a signal level of the data line that a master device is not present;
• transmit first data symbols on the data line after obtaining the master role;
• and
• receive second data symbols on the data line from one or more slave devices during reply slots that follow the first data symbols and are reserved for the one or more slave devices.

A method for communicating via a data line that connects a first play set character to a second play set character, the method comprising:

• determining, based on a signal level of the data line, whether a master device is presently coupled to the data line;
• obtaining, with the first play set character, a master role for the first play set character after determining, based on a signal level of the data line, that no master device is presently coupled to the data line;
• transmitting first data symbols from the first play set character on the data line after obtaining the master role for the first play set character;
• and
• receiving second data symbols transmitted by the second play set character on the data line during reply slots that follow the first data symbols.