Patent ID: 6760881
Filing Date: 2004-07-06
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
A method for combining a refresh operation with a parity validation for a DRAM-based content addressable memory (CAM), the method comprising:implementing the memory refresh operation; examining a word included within the CAM; determining whether data contained within said word constitutes valid data; if said data contained within said word does not constitute valid data, then bypassing the parity validation; if said data contained within said word does constitute valid data, then implementing the parity validation, the parity validation further comprising; reading said data contained within said word; generating a parity bit from said data contained within said word; and comparing said generated parity bit with a previously stored parity bit; and if the parity validation is implemented and if said generated parity bit does not match said previously stored parity bit, then invalidating said data contained within said word.