A method for synchronous serial communication includes encoding, by a master device, a header field to be initially transmitted in a frame with a header identification code and a slave count value that defines a number of slave devices communicatively coupled to the master device. A plurality of address fields to be transmitted in the frame are also encoded by the master device. Each of the address fields corresponding to a different one the slave devices. A first of the address fields to be transmitted in the frame corresponds to a last of the slave devices to receive the header field, and a last of the address fields to be transmitted in the frame corresponds to a first of the slave devices to receive the header field. The frame is transmitted to the slave devices by the master device.