Patent ID: 7937495

Claim:
A method for modifying packet header data transferred to an output buffer, comprising: initiating, by a processor, a transfer of acquired packet header data to the output buffer; accessing a data structure including one or more entries containing information associated with a range of addresses and an operation code; and modify the acquired packet header data while the packet header data is being transferred to the output buffer by, searching the data structure for an entry containing information associated with a range of addresses that matches a range of addresses associated with the acquired packet header data, if a matching entry is found, determining if an operation code contained in a matching entry indicates an insert data operation, and if so, a) generating a leading bit mask that represents leading data contained in the acquired packet header data, b) transferring the leading bit mask and the acquired packet header data to the output buffer, c) acquiring insert data, d) generating an insert data bit mask that represents the insert data, e) transferring the insert data bit mask and the insert data to the output buffer, f) generating a lagging bit mask that represents lagging data contained in the acquired packet header data, and g) transferring the lagging bit mask and the acquired packet header data to the output buffer.