class PacketBuffer
{
 public:
  //
  // If maxSize is non-positive, the size is unlimited.
  // Otherwise only maxSize packets are allowed in
  // the buffer at any one time.
  //
  PacketBuffer(int maxSize = -1);

  //
  // Stores the packet in the buffer.
  // Throws overflow_error is the buffer is full.
  //
  void bufferPacket(const T& packet);

  //
  // Returns the next packet. Throws out_of_range
  // if the buffer is empty.
  //
  T getNextPacket() throw (std::out_of_range);

 protected:
  queue mPackets;
  int mMaxSize;

 private:
  // prevent assignment and pass-by-value
  PacketBuffer(const PacketBuffer& src);
  PacketBuffer& operator=(const PacketBuffer& rhs);
};