FIFO device

A FIFO device for temporarily storing and transferring an input IEEE 1394 type packet through an IEEE 1394 type interface, said FIFO device comprising:

• a memory part configured to store an input packet;
• an input control part configured to generate write addresses in said memory part, for writing write data sequentially at a predetermined time interval according to input control signals from external to said input control part, and thereby control writing of the write data into said memory part;
• and
• an output control part configured to generate read addresses in said memory part, for reading stored data sequentially at a predetermined time interval according to input control signals from external to said output control part, and thereby control reading of the stored data from said memory part,
• wherein said input control part determines whether or not said input packet should be transferred from said memory part in accordance with (i) acknowledge information in a trailer part of said input packet, and (ii) packet type information in a header part of said input packet, and
• when said input control part determines that said input packet should not be transferred from said memory part, said input control part does not acknowledge a request from external to said input control part to read said input packet from said memory part, and causes said input packet to be overwritten by a new input packet, thereby allowing said input packet to be deleted from said memory part.