Patent ID: 6308220
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A parallel-search integrated circuit comprising:a free-running sequencer for repeatedly outputting a sequence of addresses in a loop;a table for storing a plurality of entries, the table outputting an entry in response to an address from the free-running sequencer;a plurality of search engines, each search engine receiving the entry from the table, the plurality of search engines including:a first search engine for comparing at least a portion of the entry to a first input and generating a first match signal when the first input matches the at least a portion of the entry;a second search engine for comparing the at least a portion of the entry to a second input and generating a second match signal when the second input matches the at least a portion of the entry;a third search engine for comparing the at least a portion of the entry to a third input and generating a third match signal when the third input matches the at least a portion of the entry;wherein the free-running sequencer repeats the sequence of addresses once all entries have been read from the table;wherein the first search engine begins a search once the first input is received, the first search engine beginning the search at any address in the sequence of addresses and continuing until all entries have been compared by the first search engine or until the first match signal is generated;wherein the second search engine begins a search once the second input is received, the second search engine beginning the search at any address in the sequence of addresses and continuing until all entries have been compared by the second search engine or until the second match signal is generated;wherein the third search engine begins a search once the third input is received, the third search engine beginning the search at any address in the sequence of addresses and continuing until all entries have been compared by the third search engine or until the third match signal is generated; andwherein the first, second, and third search engines perform overlapping searches that begin and end at different times and at different addresses in the sequence,whereby parallel searches are performed.