Core Networks L.l.c.

Gregory F Soprovich

Farhad Shafai

Kelvin Spencer

A method includes searching a content addressable memory based on a comparand. The comparand includes a collection of bits. A modified comparand is generated by modifying the comparand. The modified comparand is based at least in part on a comparand overlay data value. The content addressable memory is also searched with the modified comparand.

Searching a content addressable memory with modifiable comparands

An invention is provided for using a comparand provided to a CAM for multiple CAM operations without requiring the comparand to be reloaded from a host processor for each CAM operation. The invention includes a comparand data register that is capable of storing a comparand. Associated with the comparand data register, is a plurality of result registers. In operation, the comparand is provided as input data to the CAM for a plurality of search operations. For each search operation, the result is stored in one of the plurality of result registers. In this manner, the comparand stored in the data register can be reused for multiple search operations, with each result stored in a separate result register.

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Nepean, Canada

Gregory F Soprovich