Patent ID: 7093023

Claim:
A method of processing a stream of network data through a programmable logic device (PLD), said method comprising: configuring the PLD having: a first logic circuit adapted to: (1) determine whether a stream of network data applied thereto includes a string matching a first regular expression pattern, and (2) perform a first responsive action if said network data stream includes the string matching said first regular expression pattern; and a second logic circuit adapted to: (1) determine whether the stream of network data applied thereto includes a string matching a second regular expression pattern, and (2) perform a second responsive action if said network data stream includes the string matching said second regular expression pattern; and processing a stream of network data through said first logic circuit of said configured PLD to: (1) determine whether said network data stream includes the string matching said first regular expression pattern, and (2) perform said first responsive action if said network data stream includes the string matching said first regular expression pattern; and while the first logic circuit processes the stream of network data, processing the stream of network data through said second logic circuit of said configured PLD to: (1) determine whether said network data stream includes the string matching said second regular expression pattern, and (2) perform said second responsive action if said network data stream includes the string matching said second regular expression pattern; maintaining full throughput of network data through the PLD while the first logic circuit processes the stream of network data and the second logic circuit processes the stream of network data.