Encoding for multi-device synchronization of devices

A distributed network system may include a shared communication bus that operates in accordance with a communication protocol and a plurality of devices coupled to the bus. In accordance with the communication protocol, when one or more of the plurality of devices is actively transmitting data on the bus, each of the plurality of devices receives data via the bus such that bidirectional communication is established among the plurality of devices via the bus, each of the plurality of devices monitors a bus state of the shared communication bus to avoid data contention and to synchronize receipt of encoded symbols and encoded messages comprising encoded symbols via the bus, and each actively transmitting device of the plurality of devices compares the bus state to a desired state of such actively transmitting device to determine a priority among actively transmitting devices of the plurality of devices with respect to the bus.