Patent ID: 6778530
Filing Date: 2004-08-17
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A system that provides output values when an input search key value matches a multiple field rule, the system comprising:a first prefix engine that receives at least a first search key field, the first prefix engine translating values of the first search key field into first field equivalence class numbers by prefix matching, a first equivalence class number representing a stored subset S of a range of the first search key field such that, regardless of values of search keys applied for other fields, any member of the subset S may be substituted for any other member of the subset S, without changing a result returned by a search; a first combining circuit that combines the first field equivalence class numbers with third field values to form first combination values; and a first cross-product prefix engine that receives the first combination values and translates the first combination values into first tuple equivalence class numbers by prefix matching, a tuple equivalence class number representing a previously computed and stored subset T of the cross-product of the ranges of at least two search key fields such that, regardless of the values of search keys applied for other fields, any member of the subset T may be substituted for any other member of the subset T, without changing a result returned by the search.