Patent ID: 7493328
Filing Date: 2009-02-17
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for processing packets based on a hierarchy of policies, the method comprising: performing a lookup operation on a plurality of associative memory entries of an associative memory based on a lookup word derived from a packet in order to identify a lookup result, the associative memory entries corresponding to a plurality of policies of the hierarchy of policies and a plurality of associations corresponding to said policies, wherein the associative memory is configured to identify the highest-priority, in a predetermined priority ordering, associative memory entry of the associative memory entries matching the lookup word, with said policies programmed into said associative memory entries such that said hierarchy of the policies matches said predetermined priority ordering of the associative memory entries, with each associative memory entry corresponding to a particular association of the plurality of associations being programmed into said associative memory entries prior to, in said predetermined priority ordering, the associative memory entry corresponding to the particular association's policy of said policies and after any associative memory entry corresponding to another of said policies higher in said hierarchy of policies; and processing the packet based on the lookup result.