Patent ID: 8855121

Claim:
A network device comprising: one or more processing modules operable to generate a plurality of indexes associated with each of a plurality of keys; a look-up table having a plurality of memories, each memory including at least one indexed location for storing at least one indexed entry, each indexed entry being separately indexed by one of the plurality of indexes, wherein: each indexed entry includes a key field, a data field, and a count field; the count field stores a count value dependent on a number of insert operations for all keys associated with the indexed location, the count value being indicative of a congestion level of the indexed entry; and the one or more processing modules are further operable to: receive a request to insert an insert entry in the look-up table, the entry including an insert key and insert data; select an entry with a lowest count value among the indexed entries of the multiple memories associated with the insert key; modify the count value of the selected entry; and write the count value along with insert data in the selected entry.