[dom0]

> For example, does A/D conversion take place until all of the packet information is converted, then the whole binary blob is enframed as a header and a packet

The "A/D stage" only gives off a stream of bytes, so something similar to a state machine will be used to separate it into packets that are then further processed.

That doesn't mean you have to wait for a whole packet to come through, though. E.g. a switch (or router) could start to forward the packet as soon as it sees the destination address.