Patent ID: 7484063

Claim:
A sorting apparatus to sort data, comprising: a first memory that: 1) stores data to be sorted; 2) receives a search command to sort the stored data; and 3) outputs a match address in response to the search command; a second memory capable of being either read or write memory; a third memory capable of being either read or write memory; a controller that: i) stores the data to be sorted in the first memory and one of the second memory or third memory; ii) issues the search command; and iii) controls whether each of the second memory and the third memory is read or write memory; one of the second memory or third memory, in a read mode, having a copy of the data to be sorted, and the memory in read mode providing match data in response to the match address from the first memory; and one of the second memory or third memory, in a write mode, storing the match data from the memory in read mode.