Method and apparatus for determining existence of an address in an address look-up table

摘要

A method (50) for determining if it is necessary to perform a search for a specified address in an address lookup table (LUT) (58) containing a plurality of addresses (59) is disclosed. The method (50) provides at least one ordered list (56) of address existence fields. The address existence fields are associated with lookup addresses obtained from at least one portion of the plurality of addresses (59). The method (50) indexes into the at least one ordered list (56) to access at least one address existence field associated with a corresponding portion of the specified address. The method (50) further checks the at least one address existence field to determine if a search of the specified address in the address LUT (58) is necessary.