Table-type data retrieval mechanism, packet processing system using the same, and table-type data retrieval method for said packet processing system

摘要

An entry storing packet information to be retrieved at a high speed is hit by retrieval with a high-speed retrieval mechanism. Packet information to be retrieved at a medium speed is not cataloged in the high-speed retrieval mechanism and is miss-hit by retrieval with the high-speed retrieval mechanism, but is hit by retrieval with a medium-speed retrieval mechanism. The other packet information is cataloged in only a low-speed retrieval mechanism, which is realized by software or the like, and is hit by retrieval with the low-speed retrieval mechanism. This construction can realize a table-type data retrieval mechanism which can realize required retrieval performance at low cost and can dynamically cope with a variation in packet arrival frequency to reduce unnecessary cost.