Content addressable memory with programmable word width and programmable priority
First Claim
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1. A content addressable memory (CAM) device comprising:
- a CAM array having a plurality of rows of CAM cells, each row including a plurality of row segments and being adapted to store a data word that spans a selectable number of the row segments;
a priority index table coupled to the plurality of rows of CAM cells and adapted to store a plurality of priority numbers, each priority number being indicative of a priority of a corresponding data word stored in the CAM array.
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Abstract
A content addressable memory (CAM) device including a CAM array and a priority index table. The CAM array has a plurality of rows of CAM cells, each row including a plurality of row segments and being adapted to store a data word that spans a selectable number of the row segments. The priority index table is coupled to the plurality of rows of CAM cells and is adapted to store a plurality of priority numbers, each priority number being indicative of a priority of a corresponding data word stored in the CAM array.
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Citations
81 Claims
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1. A content addressable memory (CAM) device comprising:
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a CAM array having a plurality of rows of CAM cells, each row including a plurality of row segments and being adapted to store a data word that spans a selectable number of the row segments;
a priority index table coupled to the plurality of rows of CAM cells and adapted to store a plurality of priority numbers, each priority number being indicative of a priority of a corresponding data word stored in the CAM array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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45. A method of operation within a content addressable memory (CAM) device, the method comprising:
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storing a data word in a CAM array of the CAM device, the data word spanning a number of CAM cells within the CAM array in accordance with a first configuration value; and
storing a priority number in a priority index table of the CAM device, the priority number indicating a priority of the data word relative to other data words stored in the CAM array.
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50. A method of operation within a content addressable memory (CAM) device, the method comprising:
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comparing a comparand value to a plurality of data words stored within a CAM array to identify data words that, at least in part, match the comparand value;
selecting a plurality of priority numbers according to the identified data words, each of the priority numbers having a constituent number of bits according to a first configuration value; and
comparing the plurality of priority numbers to determine a highest priority one of the identified data words. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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58. A system comprising:
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a CAM device having a CAM array and a priority index table; and
a processor coupled to output configuration information to the CAM device, the configuration information indicating a width of data words to be stored in the CAM array and a width of priority numbers to be stored in the priority index table.
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65. A method of controlling a content addressable memory (CAM) device, the method comprising:
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outputting first configuration information to the CAM device, the first configuration information indicating a width of data words to be stored in a first CAM array within the CAM device and a width of priority numbers to be stored in a first priority table within the CAM device;
outputting at least one write instruction to the CAM device to instruct the CAM device to store a data word within a data storage field of the first CAM array, the data storage field including a number of CAM cells according to the configuration information, and to instruct the CAM device to store a priority number within a priority number storage field of the first priority table, the priority number storage field including a number of priority storage cells in accordance with the configuration information. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69)
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70. A content addressable memory (CAM) device comprising:
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a CAM array having a plurality of CAM cells;
means for writing a data word into the CAM array, the data word spanning a number of the CAM cells within the CAM array in accordance with a first configuration value;
a priority index table coupled to the CAM array; and
means for writing a priority number into the priority index table, the priority number indicating a priority of the data word relative to other data words stored in the CAM array. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 80, 81)
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79. A content addressable memory (CAM) device comprising:
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a CAM array to store a plurality of data words;
means for identifying data words stored within the CAM array that, at least in part, match a comparand value;
a priority index table to store priority numbers;
means for selecting priority numbers stored within the priority index table according to the identified data words, each of the selected priority numbers having a constituent number of bits according to a configuration value; and
means for comparing the selected priority numbers to determine a highest priority one of the identified data words.
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Specification