Communication packet processor with a look-up engine and content-addressable memory for updating context information for a core processor
US6798778B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 8, 2001 |
| Grant date | Sep 28, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 16, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L49/252
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Packet processing circuitry comprises a look-up engine and a processor. The look-up engine transfers a selector to a CAM and receives a corresponding result from the CAM. The look-up engine retrieves a context structure from a context memory based on the result and transfers the context structure to the processor. The processor receives and processes the context structure to control handling of the communication packet. The processor modifies the context structure and transfers the modified context structure to the look-up engine. The processor generates an update instruction and transfers the update instruction to the look-up engine. The look-up engine receives the update instruction and the modified context structure. The look-up engine automatically writes the modified context structure to the context memory in response to the update instruction.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.