Lpc2000

> Data transfer 
> rate is very low (~100 bytes/s per slave) and distance between 
master 
> and slaves is <1m.
> 

Unless you have a very large board ( <1m ), using an RS-485 would be 
the easiest way to get running.

Using a scheme like MODBUS is also easy on software.

There are many projects on the web using slimmed downed version of 
MODBUS that you might leverage.

hamilton