Integrated search engine devices that utilize SPM-linked bit maps to reduce handle memory duplication and methods of operating same

摘要

An integrated search engine device evaluates span prefix masks for keys residing at leaf parent levels of a search tree to identify a longest prefix match to an applied search key. This longest prefix match resides at a leaf node of the search tree that is outside a search path of the search tree for the applied search key. The search engine device is also configured to read a bitmap associated with the leaf node to identify a pointer to associated data for the longest prefix match. The pointer has a value that is based on a position of a set bit within the bitmap that corresponds to a set bit within the span prefix mask that signifies the longest prefix match.