TCAM PROVIDING EFFICIENT MOVE CONTENTS OPERATION

摘要

An embodiment of the invention includes a Ternary Content Addressable Memory (TCAM) that includes a group of TCAM block. Each TCAM block stores a number of match entries. Each TCAM block is ranked in priority order. The TCAM also includes a group of TCAM headpointers. There is a TCAM headpointer coupled to each TCAM block. The TCAM headpointer indicates the highest priority match in the group of match entries in a TCAM block. The match entries within a TCAM block are prioritized in circular priority order starting from the highest priority match.

主权项

1. A TCAM (Ternary Content Addressable Memory) comprising:
a plurality of TCAM blocks wherein each TCAM block in the plurality of TCAM blocks stores a plurality of match entries; wherein each TCAM block in the plurality of TCAM blocks is ranked in priority order; a plurality of TCAM block headpointers wherein each TCAM block headpointer in the plurality of TCAM headpointers is coupled to a TCAM block in the plurality of TCAM blocks; wherein each TCAM block head pointer is operable to point to any match entries in the plurality of match entries in a TCAM block; wherein the TCAM block head pointer indicates a highest priority match entry from the plurality of match entries, wherein the plurality of match entries within a TCAM block are prioritized in circular priority order starting from the highest priority match entry.