how flag 28 and offset field classify the fragment table i flag 28 fragment offset state field 30 fragment classification set 1 0 first part set 1 gt 0 middle part not set 0 gt 0 last part in addition to classifying the fragment cpu 92 determines start and end values of the fragment fragment1 start and fragment1 end respectively in bytes using length field 18 and offset 30 using fragment1 start and or fragment1 end cpu 92 calculates connection parameters consisting of potential values middle_start and or middle_end that a next fragment might have the connection parameters are stored in ordering buffer 96 and data comprised in the fragment is stored in reassembly buffer 98 the connection parameters calculated depend on the initial classification determined in step 104 and are listed in table ii below table ii fragment classification connection parameter first part middle_start fragment1 end 1 middle part middle_start fragment1 start middle_end fragment1 end last part middle_end fragment1 start u2212 1 in a second step 106 a second fragment is received and cpu 92 determines start and end values of the fragment fragment2 start and fragment2 end respectively using length field 18 and offset 30 the fragment is classified substantially as described above for step 104 with reference to table i in comparison steps 108 and 109 the two fragments are compared tables iii iv and v below list possible types of the second fragment and comparisons between first and second fragment parameters the tables give results of the comparison and updates to the connection parameters where appropriate and a state that machine 130 is.