Method for bi-directional data communication in a digital game port

A method for bi-directional communication between at least one game controller, a game port mounted on a personal computer, and a driver running on the personal computer, the game port having a charging circuit responsive to a personal computer instruction, analog input terminals, and digital input terminals, the at least one game controller having an analog circuit coupled to the game port for completing the charging circuit, wherein the at least one game controller includes a master game controller and a first slave game controller, the method comprising:

• sending the personal computer instruction from the driver to the game port;
• charging the charging circuit from a first voltage level to a second voltage level responsive to the personal computer instruction;
• detecting a predetermined voltage level on the charging circuit;
• generating a frame synchronization signal responsive to the detecting the predetermined voltage level;
• serially transmitting controller data on a first digital input terminal and a controller clock on a second digital input terminal to the driver responsive to the frame synchronization signal;
• and
• processing the serially transmitted controller data responsive to the controller clock;
• wherein serially transmitting controller data to the driver includes:
• serially transmitting master controller data on the first digital input terminal to the driver responsive to a first edge of the frame synchronization signal;
• serially transmitting a first clock signal on the second digital input terminal to the driver responsive to the first edge of the frame synchronization signal, the first clock signal corresponding to the master controller data signal;
• serially transmitting a first slave controller data on a third digital input terminal responsive to the first edge of the frame synchronization signal;
• and
• serially transmitting a second clock signal on a fourth digital input terminal responsive to the first edge of the frame synchronization signal, the second clock signal corresponding to the first slave controller data signal.