Apparatus and method for improving CAM usage
US8176242B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 5, 2009 |
| Grant date | May 8, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 23, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C15/00
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A network apparatus comprises a plurality of ports, and a forwarding engine coupled to the plurality of ports. The forwarding engine is configured to transfer data units received via at least some of the plurality of ports to one or more appropriate ports in the plurality of ports. The forwarding engine comprises a content addressable memory (CAM) device to store a plurality of data patterns organized in a plurality of groups, wherein the CAM device is configured to, responsive to input data, output in a single cycle a plurality of match indications corresponding to the plurality of groups. The forwarding engine also comprises a logic device coupled to the CAM device and configured to generate an action value based on the plurality of match indications, wherein the action value indicates an action to be taken by the forwarding engine.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.