Patent ID: 7602801

Claim:
A packet processing device for processing packets in which variable length data is split and stored, the packet processing device comprising: a header analyzing section for analyzing, using a processor, a header of an inputted packet and determining whether data stored in a payload is start data containing start information or other data; a data extracting section for referring to an analysis result from the header analyzing section and extracting the data from the payload of the packet; a buffer for storing the data extracted by the data extracting section; a buffer controlling section for controlling a stored position and an accumulated data amount of the data in the buffer; a start data identifying section for generating stored position information representing a position of the start data stored in the buffer and a count number representing a number of the start data stored in the buffer, as information for identifying the start data in the buffer, based on the analysis result from the header analyzing section and the controlling of the stored position and the accumulated data amount of the data in the buffer by the buffer controlling section; and a decode section for reading out data from the buffer with a predetermined timing, obtaining the stored position information and the count number from the start data identifying section, separating the start data contained in the data read out into start information and data based on the stored position information and the count number, and performing a decode process for the data read out based on the start information; wherein the buffer controlling section compares the count number against a predetermined threshold number and, when the number becomes equal to or greater than the threshold number, outputs a predetermined notification signal, and wherein the decode section reads out the data from the buffer with a timing of receiving the notification signal.