Table searching techniques in a network device
First Claim
1. A network device for processing data on a data network, the network device comprising:
- a port interface, in communication with a plurality of ports, configured to receive a data packet from a data network and to send a processed data packet to an egress port of the plurality of ports;
a packet evaluation module, in communication with the port interface, configured to parse the received data packet and modify the received data packet to form the processed data packet; and
a search engine, in communication with the packet evaluation module, configured to perform searches of lookup tables using parsed data packet values and to return search results to the packet evaluation module to assist in modifying the received data packet;
wherein the searches of the lookup tables occur in pairs, such that a first lookup search provides interim results that are used in a second lookup search to provide the search results.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network device for processing data on a data network including a port interface configured to receive a data packet from a data network and to send a processed data packet to an egress port of the plurality of ports, a packet evaluation module configured to parse the received data packet and modify the received data packet to form the processed data packet and a search engine configured to perform searches of lookup tables using parsed data packet values and to return search results to the packet evaluation module to assist in modifying the received data packet. The searches of the lookup tables occur in pairs, such that a first lookup search provides interim results that are used in a second lookup search to provide the search results.
34 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A network device for processing data on a data network, the network device comprising:
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a port interface, in communication with a plurality of ports, configured to receive a data packet from a data network and to send a processed data packet to an egress port of the plurality of ports;
a packet evaluation module, in communication with the port interface, configured to parse the received data packet and modify the received data packet to form the processed data packet; and
a search engine, in communication with the packet evaluation module, configured to perform searches of lookup tables using parsed data packet values and to return search results to the packet evaluation module to assist in modifying the received data packet;
wherein the searches of the lookup tables occur in pairs, such that a first lookup search provides interim results that are used in a second lookup search to provide the search results. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for processing data in a network device, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a data packet at one port of a plurality of ports;
parsing the received data packet to determine parsed data packet values;
searching lookup tables using the parsed data packet values;
obtaining search results;
modifying the received data packet to form a processed data packet based on the search results; and
sending the processed data packet to an egress port of the plurality of ports;
wherein the searches of the lookup tables occur in pairs, such that a first lookup search provides interim results that are used in a second lookup search to provide the search results. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A network device for processing data, the network device comprising:
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port means for receiving a data packet at one port of a plurality of ports and sending a processed data packet to an egress port of the plurality of ports;
parsing and modifying means for parsing the received data packet to determine parsed data packet values and for modifying the received data packet to form the processed data packet based on search results;
searching means for searching lookup tables using the parsed data packet values and obtaining the search results;
wherein the searching means is configured to perform of the searching of the lookup tables in pairs, such that a first lookup search provides interim results that are used in a second lookup search to provide the search results. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification