A high speed, serial interface employs a simplified protocol which minimizes overhead enabling uncompressed image data to be sent serially over a long distance in real-time devices, such as a color printer. Because the error rate experienced in high speed serial and fiber optic links is very small and finite, the protocol removes the requirement to retransmit real time data. The protocol for initiator device-target device communications includes an idle message frame for indicating a device is ready for communication; a control word frame for sending a data request from the target device; a control word frame for indicating a transfer mode from the initiator device; and a data frame, wherein in response to a data request from the target device, the initiator device transmits a control word frame followed by the requested data.