Patent ID: 6697873
Filing Date: 2004-02-24
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method of searching for a computer address in an address table, the computer address having a bit size n, the method comprising:a. generating a search index by compressing the computer address to obtain a compressed value of the address, wherein the search index comprises a first number of bits less than the bit size n; b. accessing a primary address record corresponding to the computer address in a primary address table, the primary address record being accessed by using the search index to locate the primary address record, wherein the primary address record includes the computer address, a port number associated with the computer address, and a link that that specifies the location of an initial secondary address record in a secondary address table; c. comparing the search index to the primary address record by: i. decompressing the search index to obtain a first value; ii. decompressing the compressed value of the address contained in the primary address record to obtain a second value; iii. comparing the first value to the second value; d. if the first value does not equal the second value, then accessing the initial secondary address record using the link, wherein the initial secondary address record includes a full computer address, a port number associated with the full computer address, and a link to a subsequent secondary address record of the same hash family.