Patent ID: 6633563
Filing Date: 2003-10-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method of assigning an internet protocol (IP) packet related to a subscriber to a processor in an Internet service node (ISN), said ISN containing a plurality of processors, wherein said processor is capable of processing said IP packet to provide service policies desired for said subscriber, said method comprising the steps of:(a) configuring a location of a content addressable memory (CAM), said CAM containing a plurality of locations including said location, each of said plurality of locations having a mask, a search field and an output field, said CAM being designed to receive an input value and compare said input value with data in said search field at bit positions specified by said mask for each of said plurality of locations, said CAM being designed to generate as output the data stored in said output field if there is a match with the corresponding location, said search field and said mask of said location being configured with data identifying said subscriber, said output field of said location being set to data identifying one or more processors suitable for processing data related to said subscriber; (b) receiving said IP packet in the form of a sequence of cells including a first cell containing the header data of said IP packet; (c) providing data in said first cell as said input value to said CAM; (d) receiving as an output of said CAM the data stored in said output field of a location if the corresponding search field matches said input value at the bit positions specified by the corresponding mask; and (e) assigning said sequence of cells to said one or more processors identified by said output received in step (d), whereby said IP packet is assigned to said one or more processors suitable for processing said IP packet if the data in said first cell matches data stored in said location at bit positions specified by said mask of said location.