diff --git a/src/packet.js b/src/packet.js
index bd77060..3de8b2b 100644
--- a/src/packet.js
+++ b/src/packet.js
@@ -2,10 +2,44 @@ import BufferReader from "./buffer_reader.js";
 
 class Packet {
 
+    // Packet::header values
+    static PH_ROUTE_MASK = 0x03;   // 2-bits
+    static PH_TYPE_SHIFT = 2;
+    static PH_TYPE_MASK = 0x0F;   // 4-bits
+    static PH_VER_SHIFT = 6;
+    static PH_VER_MASK = 0x03;   // 2-bits
+
+    static ROUTE_TYPE_RESERVED1 = 0x00;    // FUTURE
+    static ROUTE_TYPE_FLOOD = 0x01;    // flood mode, needs 'path' to be built up (max 64 bytes)
+    static ROUTE_TYPE_DIRECT = 0x02;    // direct route, 'path' is supplied
+    static ROUTE_TYPE_RESERVED2 = 0x03;    // FUTURE
+
+    static PAYLOAD_TYPE_REQ = 0x00;    // request (prefixed with dest/src hashes, MAC) (enc data: timestamp, blob)
+    static PAYLOAD_TYPE_RESPONSE = 0x01;    // response to REQ or ANON_REQ (prefixed with dest/src hashes, MAC) (enc data: timestamp, blob)
+    static PAYLOAD_TYPE_TXT_MSG = 0x02;    // a plain text message (prefixed with dest/src hashes, MAC) (enc data: timestamp, text)
+    static PAYLOAD_TYPE_ACK = 0x03;    // a simple ack
+    static PAYLOAD_TYPE_ADVERT = 0x04;    // a node advertising its Identity
+    static PAYLOAD_TYPE_GRP_TXT = 0x05;    // an (unverified) group text message (prefixed with channel hash, MAC) (enc data: timestamp, "name: msg")
+    static PAYLOAD_TYPE_GRP_DATA = 0x06;    // an (unverified) group datagram (prefixed with channel hash, MAC) (enc data: timestamp, blob)
+    static PAYLOAD_TYPE_ANON_REQ = 0x07;    // generic request (prefixed with dest_hash, ephemeral pub_key, MAC) (enc data: ...)
+    static PAYLOAD_TYPE_PATH = 0x08;    // returned path (prefixed with dest/src hashes, MAC) (enc data: path, extra)
+    static PAYLOAD_TYPE_RESERVEDM = 0x0F;    // FUTURE
+
     constructor(header, path, payload) {
+
+
         this.header = header;
         this.path = path;
         this.payload = payload;
+
+        // parsed info
+        this.route_type = this.getRouteType();
+        this.route_type_string = this.getRouteTypeString();
+        this.payload_type = this.getPayloadType();
+        this.payload_type_string = this.getPayloadTypeString();
+        this.payload_version = this.getPayloadVer();
+        this.is_marked_do_not_retransmit = this.isMarkedDoNotRetransmit();
+
     }
 
     static fromBytes(bytes) {
@@ -17,6 +51,58 @@ class Packet {
         return new Packet(header, path, payload);
     }
 
+    getRouteType() {
+        return this.header & Packet.PH_ROUTE_MASK;
+    }
+
+    getRouteTypeString() {
+        switch(this.getRouteType()){
+            case Packet.ROUTE_TYPE_FLOOD: return "ROUTE_TYPE_FLOOD";
+            case Packet.ROUTE_TYPE_DIRECT: return "ROUTE_TYPE_DIRECT";
+            default: return null;
+        }
+    }
+
+    isRouteFlood() {
+        return this.getRouteType() === Packet.ROUTE_TYPE_FLOOD;
+    }
+
+    isRouteDirect() {
+        return this.getRouteType() === Packet.ROUTE_TYPE_DIRECT;
+    }
+
+    getPayloadType() {
+        return (this.header >> Packet.PH_TYPE_SHIFT) & Packet.PH_TYPE_MASK;
+    }
+
+    getPayloadTypeString() {
+        switch(this.getPayloadType()){
+            case Packet.PAYLOAD_TYPE_REQ: return "PAYLOAD_TYPE_REQ";
+            case Packet.PAYLOAD_TYPE_RESPONSE: return "PAYLOAD_TYPE_RESPONSE";
+            case Packet.PAYLOAD_TYPE_TXT_MSG: return "PAYLOAD_TYPE_TXT_MSG";
+            case Packet.PAYLOAD_TYPE_ACK: return "PAYLOAD_TYPE_ACK";
+            case Packet.PAYLOAD_TYPE_ADVERT: return "PAYLOAD_TYPE_ADVERT";
+            case Packet.PAYLOAD_TYPE_GRP_TXT: return "PAYLOAD_TYPE_GRP_TXT";
+            case Packet.PAYLOAD_TYPE_GRP_DATA: return "PAYLOAD_TYPE_GRP_DATA";
+            case Packet.PAYLOAD_TYPE_ANON_REQ: return "PAYLOAD_TYPE_ANON_REQ";
+            case Packet.PAYLOAD_TYPE_PATH: return "PAYLOAD_TYPE_PATH";
+            case Packet.PAYLOAD_TYPE_RESERVEDM: return "PAYLOAD_TYPE_RESERVEDM";
+            default: return null;
+        }
+    }
+
+    getPayloadVer() {
+        return (this.header >> Packet.PH_VER_SHIFT) & Packet.PH_VER_MASK;
+    }
+
+    markDoNotRetransmit() {
+        this.header = 0xFF;
+    }
+
+    isMarkedDoNotRetransmit() {
+        return this.header === 0xFF;
+    }
+
 }
 
 export default Packet;