Patent ID: 7788443
Filing Date: 2010-08-31
Classification: G06F,G11C

Abstract:
1. A method, for handling multiple hits of an associative memory, comprising: receiving, from a data processing device, compare data in the associative memory; detecting if a multiple hit condition in which more than one hit condition occurs in the associative memory, a hit condition being a condition in which data values stored in a group of memory cells in the associative memory matches the compare data; reading out data to the data processing device from a secondary storage area in response to any hit condition occurring; outputting a multiple hit signal to the data processing device in response to the multiple hit condition occurring to thereby inform the data processing device that a multiple hit condition has been detected; setting, for each individual group of memory cells in the associative memory that contributed to the multiple hit condition, a valid bit to an invalid state indicating an associated group of memory cells is invalid; and preventing, based on the setting of the valid bits, individual groups of memory cells whose valid bits are set to an invalid state from indicating a hit in subsequent searches of the associative memory.