Patent ID: 6901476

Claim:
A system for storing arranged data in a memory, and for extracting the date therefrom, the system comprising: (a) a random access memory (RAM) including: (i) a first array of cells, said first array having at least two dimensions and having rows and columns, said first array designed and configured to contain a plurality of at least two kinds of key entries, wherein the at least two kinds of key entries are selected from one of: two exact type of key entries with different lengths, two range type of key entries with different lengths, or combination of an exact type key entry and a range type of key entry; each said range type key entry corresponding to a particular range and being associated with a particular one of said data entries; each said exact type key entry being associated with a particular one of said data entries; each of said cells having a unique address and being accessible via an input key, each of said kinds of key entries being arranged in monotonic order, and (ii) a second array of cells, said second array having at least two dimensions and having rows and columns, said second array having a plurality of data entries, each of said data entries being associated with a particular one of said key entries, and (b) processing means designed and configured to search, in response to said input key, said plurality of said key entries so as to identify a match.