MULTI-THREADED QUEUING SYSTEM FOR PATTERN MATCHING

摘要

A multi-threaded processor may support efficient pattern matching techniques. An input data buffer may be provided, which may be shared between a fast path and a slow path. The processor may retire the data units in the input data buffer that is not required and thus avoids copying the data unit used by the slow path. The data management and the execution efficiency may be enhanced as multiple threads may be created to verify potential pattern matches in the input data stream. Also, the threads, which may stall may exit the execution units allowing other threads to run. Further, the problem of state explosion may be avoided by allowing the creation of parallel threads, using the fork instruction, in the slow path.

主权项

1. A system to process data units comprising:
a fast path to determine if received input data units include at least a portion of a pattern, which, potentially, matches with at least one of predetermined pattern, and create one or more jobs if there exist a potential match, each of the one or more jobs associated with an input data unit and including at least data, instructions, and state information; a job pool arbiter to:
allocate the one or more jobs for execution while providing a job state to be stored in a job pool,send a first request to a bus master to receive instructions to enable processing of the jobs; andsend a second request to a control block to cause the one or more input data units in an input data buffer that are associated with the jobs to be provided to the job pool; and a slow path including a plurality of execution units, wherein the fast path and the slow path share the input data buffer to avoid copying the input data units for which a potential match exists.