Patent ID: 8014390
Filing Date: 2011-09-06
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A network device for routing packets, the network device comprising: a processor comprising a plurality of slices for classifying a received packet and for performing at least one action based on a classification of the received packet, wherein each of the plurality of slices comprises: a field selector configured to select at least one field from the received packet, and to apply the at least one field to the input of a ternary content addressable memory (TCAM); a rules table, implemented as a plurality of entries in the TCAM, wherein the TCAM is configured to compare the input to each entry and to output the address of a matching entry, and wherein each entry in the TCAM includes an input port bit map that identifies the ports on the network device to which the entry applies; and a policy table comprising a plurality of entries, wherein each entry in the policy table is indexed by the address of an associated entry in the TCAM, and includes at least one action to be performed by the network device.