Patent ID: 7350020
Filing Date: 2008-03-25
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus configured to substantially simultaneously perform multiple lookup operations on associative memory entries and then on their corresponding adjunct memory entries in identifying a merged lookup result, the apparatus comprising: a first plurality of associative memory entries and corresponding adjunct memory values programmed to implement a first set of access list control entries corresponding to a first feature of a plurality of access control list entries; and a second plurality of associative memory entries and corresponding adjunct memory values programmed to implement a second set of access list control entries corresponding to a second feature of the plurality of access control list entries; wherein said apparatus is configured to substantially simultaneously perform lookup operations based on a lookup value in the first plurality of associative memory entries and in the second plurality of associative memory entries in order to generate a plurality of associative memory lookup results which are used to retrieve corresponding results from said corresponding adjunct memory values; and a combiner configured to receive and merge said corresponding results generated substantially simultaneously in order to identify the merged lookup result.