Abstract: A system and method for providing multiple modes of parallel communications between a host and a peripheral. In the system and method, a driver provides support for a plurality of transfer modes while satisfying the streams requirements of a host kernel during both forward and reverse transfers. The driver begins in a known mode and negotiates the host and peripheral into a best mode supported by both the host and the peripheral. The driver satisfies streams requirements, thereby permitting high level handshaking and use of ioct1s in UNIX based systems. When data is to be transferred, a message is placed on a queue to be serviced in the order received. The type of the message is indicative of the direction of the desired transfer. Each message is serviced in turn, and the transfer conducted using the most efficient mode available.