Patent ID: 6424934
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
A classification state machine for classifying data from a data stream, the state machine comprising:a) a programmable memory for storing information relating to states within the state machine, the states including a first group of states and a second group of states, the first group of states each represented by a table of data at a table address and including a first plurality of table elements each addressable at a different offset from the table address, each of the table elements indicative of a next state within the state machine, and the second group of states each represented by a table of data including a table element and occupying less memory than a table of data representing a state of the first group of states; and, b) a processor for determining a next state based on contents of a table element of a present state at an offset from the table address, the offset determined during a table address load portion of an instruction cycle in dependence upon sequential bits in the data stream, the processor also for switching the state machine into the next state so determined, wherein some of at least one of the first group of states and the second group of states include table elements indicative of a data classification terminal, and wherein when the determined next state is based on a table element indicative of a data classification terminal, the data within the data stream is so classified.