Content addressable memory (CAM) devices that can identify highest priority matches in non-sectored CAM arrays and methods of operating same
US6665202B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 25, 2001 |
| Grant date | Dec 16, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 19, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C15/00
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Content addressable memory (CAM) devices include CAM arrays that can identify a best match(es) from a plurality of matches when an operation to compare data applied to a CAM array against data entries within the CAM array is performed. This best match identification operation is preferably performed internal to the CAM array. The best match identification operation does not require operations to determine a highest priority match based on the relative physical locations of multiple matching entries that might be identified within the CAM array during a compare operation. The CAM device also does not require that the CAM array(s) therein be sectored into groups of entry locations (e.g., rows) having ordered priorities or that each CAM array within a multi-array CAM device be treated as a respective sector. Entries having identical priority may be entries having the same number of actively masked bits therein.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.