A network component comprising: a receiver configured to receive a content comprising a general name prefix; a first tier storage medium configured to store a plurality of bloom filters associated with a plurality of general name prefixes and a plurality of corresponding ports, wherein the bloom filters comprise an array of binary bits to store a collection of signatures of general name prefixes; a logic circuitry configured to compute a plurality of signatures based on the general name prefix of the received content, wherein the signatures are computed using a plurality of hashing functions that correspond to the signatures, wherein the same hashing functions are used for a plurality of received general name prefixes, and wherein different signatures are computed for different general name prefixes; and a transmitter configured to forward the received content on at least one of the ports that are associated with at least one of the bloom filters if the signature of the general name prefix is a member of the at least one of the bloom filters; wherein a plurality of ports are associated with a single bloom filter, and the received content is forwarded on at least one of the ports that are associated with the single bloom filter if the signature of the general name prefix of the received content is a member of the single bloom filter; characterized in that the network component further comprises a port preference table indicating a preferred port for a general content prefix if the general name prefix is matched with a plurality of bloom filters for a plurality of ports, wherein the content is forwarded on the preferred port only. a receiver configured to receive a content comprising a general name prefix; a first tier storage medium configured to store a plurality of bloom filters associated with a plurality of general name prefixes and a plurality of corresponding ports, wherein the bloom filters comprise an array of binary bits to store a collection of signatures of general name prefixes; a logic circuitry configured to compute a plurality of signatures based on the general name prefix of the received content, wherein the signatures are computed using a plurality of hashing functions that correspond to the signatures, wherein the same hashing functions are used for a plurality of received general name prefixes, and wherein different signatures are computed for different general name prefixes; and a transmitter configured to forward the received content on at least one of the ports that are associated with at least one of the bloom filters if the signature of the general name prefix is a member of the at least one of the bloom filters; wherein a plurality of ports are associated with a single bloom filter, and the received content is forwarded on at least one of the ports that are associated with the single bloom filter if the signature of the general name prefix of the received content is a member of the single bloom filter; characterized in that the network component further comprises a port preference table indicating a preferred port for a general content prefix if the general name prefix is matched with a plurality of bloom filters for a plurality of ports, wherein the content is forwarded on the preferred port only. <EOS>