Patent ID: 7818327
Filing Date: 2010-10-19
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of comparing a data key to a rule, wherein the data key and rule are representable by bits, the method including: generating a mask that indicates relevant bits that are relevant to identify the rule and do not care bits that are extraneous for identifying the rule; generating a vector comprised of memory positions and at least a corresponding bit for each of the memory positions, by setting bits for those memory positions of the vector pointed to by bits of the rule when read as an address, the address including both relevant bits and do not care bits, to a value that indicates that the rule is detected; inserting values of the bits of the vector into memory positions of a memory corresponding to the memory positions for each bit of the vector; dividing the bits of the data key into a plurality of chunks; extracting data from the memory at an address corresponding to the value of each of at least some of the chunks; and examining the data extracted from each memory address corresponding to the at least some of the chunks to determine if the rule is obeyed for the entire data key determining that the rule is a particular rule from among a plurality of rules of one of a plurality of protocols.