Synchronous content addressable memory
First Claim
1. A method of reading data from a synchronous content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising:
- instructing the CAM device to compare comparand data with data stored in a plurality of first CAM cells;
comparing the comparand data with the data stored in each of the plurality of first CAM cells;
sensing data stored in a second CAM cell; and
outputting the sensed data from the CAM device, wherein the instructing, comparing, sensing, and outputting occur in less than three clock cycles.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A content addressable memory (CAM) device. The CAM device is a synchronous device that may perform all of the following operations all in one clock cycle: (1) receive comparand data from a comparand bus; (2) receive an instruction from an instruction bus instructing the CAM device to compare the comparand data with a first group of CAM cells in a CAM array; (3) perform the comparison of the comparand data with the first group of CAM cells; (4) generate a match address for a location in the CAM array that stores data matching the comparand data; (5) access data stored in a second group of the CAM cells in the CAM array, wherein the second group of CAM cells may store data associated with the matched location; and (6) output to an output bus the match address, the data stored in the second group of CAM cells, and/or status information corresponding to the matched address or the second group of CAM cells. The status information may include a match flag, multiple match flag, full flag, skip bit, empty bit, or a device identification for the CAM device.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of reading data from a synchronous content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising:
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instructing the CAM device to compare comparand data with data stored in a plurality of first CAM cells;
comparing the comparand data with the data stored in each of the plurality of first CAM cells;
sensing data stored in a second CAM cell; and
outputting the sensed data from the CAM device, wherein the instructing, comparing, sensing, and outputting occur in less than three clock cycles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of reading data from a synchronous content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising:
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instructing the CAM device to compare comparand data with data stored in a plurality of first CAM cells;
comparing the comparand data with the data stored in the plurality of first CAM cells;
determining a match address for at least one of the plurality of CAM cells storing data matching the comparand data; and
outputting the match address from the CAM device, wherein the instructing, comparing, determining, and outputting occur in less than three clock cycles. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A method of reading data from a synchronous content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising:
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instructing the CAM device to compare comparand data with data stored in a plurality of first CAM cells;
comparing the comparand data with the data stored in the plurality of first CAM cells;
determining that the comparand data matches data stored in one of the plurality of first CAM cells;
sensing validity information from a second CAM cell, wherein the second CAM cell corresponds to the one of the plurality of first CAM cells storing data that matches the comparand data; and
outputting the validity information from the CAM device, wherein the instructing, comparing, determining, sensing, and outputting occur in less than three clock cycles. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of reading data from a synchronous content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising:
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instructing the CAM device to compare comparand data with data stored in a plurality of first CAM cells;
comparing the comparand data with the data stored in the plurality of first CAM cells;
sensing data stored in a second CAM cell;
loading the sensed data into a status register, wherein the instructing, comparing, sensing, and loading all occur in a first clock cycle; and
outputting the sensed data from the status register in a second clock cycle. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method of reading data from a synchronous content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising:
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instructing the CAM device to compare comparand data with data stored in a plurality of CAM cells;
comparing the comparand data with the data stored in the plurality of CAM cells;
determining a match address for at least one of the plurality of CAM cells storing data matching the comparand data;
loading the match address into a status register, wherein the instructing, comparing, determining, and loading all occur in a first clock cycle; and
outputting the match address from the storage element in a second clock cycle.
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Specification