Patent ID: 7461200

Claim:
A content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising: a plurality of regular CAM blocks each having a plurality of CAM entries for comparing stored data values with corresponding internal search key values; at least one algorithmic search CAM block for storing data set values that generate match results corresponding at least a first search data set in response to at least a portion of an external search key data value; and an overlay engine that, in an overlay mode, generates an overlay search key in response to a match result from the at least one algorithmic search CAM block, and applies the overlay search key to at least one regular CAM block, and in a non-overlay mode, generates at least one non-overlay search key from an external search key data value without accessing the algorithmic search CAM block, and applies the non-overlay search key to at least one regular CAM block storing data set values of a second data set.