Integrated search engine devices that support multi-way search trees having multi-column nodes

摘要

An integrated circuit search engine device supports a multi-way tree of search keys therein. The search engine device includes at least one multi-node sub-engine. The multi-node sub-engine includes a node processor and a plurality of columns of sub-nodes containing search keys. The node processor is configured to distribute an applied search key in parallel to each of the plurality of columns of sub-nodes in response to a search request. The node processor is also configured to receive and resolve corresponding sub-node search results from the plurality of columns of sub-nodes.