Patent ID: 7120152

Claim:
A method of routing a packet in a routing device having a main processor that includes a main cache table and an instant cache table, said instant cache table storing a recent address and a recent interface associated with the most recent packet transmission process made by said routing device, the method comprising: (a) receiving a packet that includes its destination address; (b) checking whether said destination address belongs to said routing device; (c) checking whether said destination address is identical to said recent address if said destination address does not belong to said routing device; (d) transmitting said packet to said recent interface if said destination address is identical to said recent address; (e) calculating a Hashing Key value (N) of said destination address if it is determined from the (c) checking that said destination address is not identical to said recent address; (f) checking whether said destination address is identical to an Nth cache address stored in said main cache table; and (g) transmitting said packet to a first interface corresponding to said Nth cache address if said destination address is identical to said Nth cache address.