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Method and apparatus for matching data items of variable length in a content addressable memory

  • US 6,000,008 A
  • Filed: 04/17/1997
  • Issued: 12/07/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A content addressable memory (CAM) structure for storing and locating data items of various lengths, the structure comprising:

  • a set of CAM data words, each having a predetermined number of data bits and a plurality of control bits, including a match till now bit and a begin bit to be set when a respective CAM data word contains a first word of a stored data item;

    means for inputting one word at a time of a sequence of input data words for simultaneous comparison with all of the CAM data words;

    a comparator circuit associated with each respective CAM data word, for comparing the respective CAM data word with the inputted one word of input data, and generating a word match signal for the respective CAM data word as a result of the comparison;

    match logic associated with each CAM data word, for generating a match till now signal indicating that the CAM data word and a preceding CAM data word have matched with a corresponding succession of input data words;

    means associated with each CAM data word, for generating an exact match signal if the match till now signal is generated for the respective CAM data word and the respective CAM data word contains a last word of a stored data item; and

    global match logic, for generating global match signals based on the match till now signals and exact match signals generated in all of the CAM data words,wherein the match logic determines a setting for the match till now bit of the respective CAM data word based on the begin bit, the respective word match signal, a setting of the match till now bit associated with a preceding CAM data word, and a global signal indicating that a current input data word is a first word of an input data item.

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