Patent ID: 7158519

Claim:
A data transfer apparatus for transferring a packet based on transfer information corresponding to one of a plurality of entries set in a packet search table in advance, comprising: a packet search table ( 2 ) receiving a packet search information for a packet to be transferred, the packet search table comprising a plurality of registration tables ( 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ) storing said transfer information set in advance and registered by objectives; a search means ( 20 ) to search for the transfer information, from the registration tables, based on the received packet search information; a transfer information address table ( 21 ) having address information registration positions of each of said plurality of registration tables, the registration positions indicating address information where said transfer information is stored by said registration tables, the address information being output by the transfer information address table to the registration tables to obtain transfer information corresponding to the packet search information received by the search means, the registration tables outputting the obtained transfer information for transferring the packet; and a search process circuit ( 1 ) that receives the packet to be transferred and issues the packet search information to the packet search table, wherein, the search means receives the issued packet search information and comprises a content-addressable memory ( 20 ) with stored search pattern entries that satisfy different packet search information so a received packet search information hits a satisfying search pattern entry, the search pattern entries having been stored prior to receipt of the packet search information, the transfer information address table ( 21 ), receives input from the content addressable memory ( 20 ), the information registration positions corresponding to the search pattern entries so the hit search pattern entry selects a corresponding registration position, the corresponding registration position indicating a corresponding address information where said transfer information is stored by said registration tables, the corresponding address information being output by the transfer information address table to the registration tables to obtain the transfer information corresponding to the received packet search information, and the registration tables connected to output the obtained transfer information to the search process circuit, wherein said plurality of entries are classified into a plurality of types, and wherein, the registration tables comprise a policer information table ( 22 ), an application transfer information table ( 23 ), an in-system common transfer information table ( 24 ) and an output information table ( 25 ).