Assigning prefixes to associative memory classes based on a value of a last bit of each prefix and their use including but not limited to locating a prefix and for maintaining a Patricia tree data structure

摘要

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for maintaining and using entries in one or more associative memories. A last bit of a prefix is checked, and based on this result, the entry is placed into one of two classes of associative memory entries. The entry can then be identified within the associative memory by performing a lookup operation using the prefix padded with ones if the last bit of the prefix is zero or with zeros if the last bit is one to fill out the remaining bits of the lookup word. Entries of different classes of entries are typically either stored in different associative memories, or in the same associative memory with each of these entries including a class specific identifier. Among other applications, these entries can be used to locate a prefix and to store a tree data structure in the one or more associative memories.