DALI Communication: Is DALI protocol a byte transfer mechanism or packet layer mechanism?
DALI messages are commands (eg Off, Go To Scene 3), configuration commands (eg Set Min Level), queries (eg Query Min Level) or responses (eg Yes). Some commands, mainly the configuration commands, require bytes to be transferred because the message is too small to contain the command, addressing and data. So to set a min level, you have to transfer the required value to the DTR0 of the gear before you issue the Set Min Level command, and you have to send the Set Min Level command twice within 100ms. You can also read back the DTR0 value, and other DTR values (DTR1, DTR2).

It is not practical to use standard UARTs to transmit or receive DALI because of the Manchester coding and the bit and frame timing requirements.

Efficiency of bandwidth with 64 control gears is achieved by using group addressing. If you are interested in multiple masters, then you would need to implement the multimaster timing including collision detection, avoidance and recovery as specified in IEC 62386-103.