Patent ID: RE40932

Claim:
A content addressable memory (CAM) system providing longest match capability, the CAM system comprising: an input circuit coupled to receive an input data value and divide the input data value into a series of keys, the series of keys including a first key and a second key, the first key comprising one or more consecutive bits of the input data value, and a second key comprising one or more bits of the input data value consecutively following the first key; and a CAM array in a row-column arrangement, the CAM array including a first CAM sub-array and a second CAM sub-array, wherein: the first CAM sub-array comprises the columns of the CAM array corresponding to the bits of the input data value included in the first key, the first CAM sub-array being coupled to receive the first key and generate a first match signal; and the second CAM sub-array comprises the columns of the CAM array corresponding to the bits of the input data value included in the second key, the second CAM sub-array being coupled to receive the second key and generate a second match signal.