Patent ID: 8688902
Filing Date: 2014-04-01
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: receiving input data comprising a plurality of bits; processing an access control list into an exclusive-or sum-of-products (ESOP) expression comprising a plurality of product terms; storing a plurality of bits associated with the plurality of product terms in a ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) comprising a plurality of rows; comparing the plurality of bits associated with the input data to the plurality of bits associated with the product terms stored in each row of the plurality of rows, wherein each row of the TCAM outputs a plurality of signals, wherein each of the plurality of signals indicate a match or no match for each bit stored in the selected row; receiving the plurality of signals from the plurality of rows by an ESOP evaluator; outputting, by the ESOP evaluator, an address associated with a selected row from the plurality of rows of the TCAM, the selected row storing a plurality of bits that match the plurality of bits associated with the input data; and receiving a packet comprising the input data and determining a port to forward the packet based on the address associated with the selected row.