Claims
- 1. A table search device comprising:
a table having a plurality of entries; a cache having a subset of entries of said plurality of entries of said table; and a search engine configured to first search said cache in a first number of search cycles and then search said table in a second number of search cycles based on search results of said cache, said search engine connected to said table and said cache.
- 2. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said search engine comprises:
a search stage zero segment configured to search said cache in said first number of search cycles, said search stage zero segment connected to said cache; and a search stage one segment configured to search said table in a second number of search cycles based on search results of said cache, said search stage one segment connected to said search stage zero segment and said table.
- 3. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein:
said first number of search cycles is less than said second number of search cycles.
- 4. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein:
said first number of search cycles is equal to said second number of search cycles.
- 5. The device as recited in claim 2 wherein:
said first number of search cycles is less than said second number of search cycles.
- 6. The device as recited in claim 2 wherein:
said first number of search cycles is equal to said second number of search cycles.
- 7. A table search system comprising:
a table means for storing a plurality of entries; a cache means for storing a subset of entries of said plurality of entries of said table means; and a search engine means for initially searching said cache means in a first number of search cycles and then searching said table means in a second number of search cycles based on search results of said cache means.
- 8. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein said search engine means comprises:
a search stage zero segment means for searching said cache means in said first number of search cycles, said search stage zero segment means being connected to said cache means; and a search stage one segment means for searching said table means in said second number of search cycles based on search results of said cache means, said search stage one segment means being connected to said table and said search stage zero means.
- 9. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein:
said first number of search cycles is less than said second number of search cycles.
- 10. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein:
said first number of search cycles is equal to said second number of search cycles.
- 11. The system as recited in claim 8 wherein:
said first number of search cycles is less than said second number of search cycles.
- 12. The system as recited in claim 8 wherein:
said first number of search cycles is equal to said second number of search cycles.
- 13. A method for performing a table lookup comprising the steps of:
creating a table having a plurality of entries; creating a cache having a subset of entries of said plurality of entries of said table; searching said cache in a first number of search cycles; and searching said table in a second number of search cycles based on search results of said cache.
- 14. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein:
said first number of search cycles used to search said cache is less than said second number of search cycles used to search said table.
- 15. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein:
said first number of search cycles used to search said cache is equal to said second number of search cycles used to search said table.
- 16. A network switch comprising:
an ARL table having a plurality of entries; a ARL cache having a subset of entries of said plurality of entries of said ARL table; and a search engine configured to first search said ARL cache in a first number of search cycles and then search said ARL table in a second number of search cycles based on search results of said ARL cache, said search engine connected to said ARL table and said ARL cache.
- 17. The network switch as recited in claim 16 wherein said search engine comprises:
a search stage zero segment configured to search said ARL cache in said first number of search cycles, said search stage zero segment connected to said ARL cache; and a search stage one segment configured to search said ARL table in a second number of search cycles based on search results of said ARL cache, said search stage one segment connected to said search stage zero segment and said ARL table.
- 18. The network switch as recited in claim 16 wherein:
said first number of search cycles is less than said second number of search cycles.
- 19. The device as recited in claim 16 wherein:
said first number of search cycles is equal to said second number of search cycles.
- 20. The network switch as recited in claim 17 wherein:
said first number of search cycles is less than said second number of search cycles.
- 21. The network switch as recited in claim 17 wherein:
said first number of search cycles is equal to said second number of search cycles.
REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/528,164 filed on Mar. 17, 2000 which is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/343,409, filed on Jun. 30, 1999. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/528,164 filed on Mar. 17, 2000 claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/124,878, filed on Mar. 17, 1999, U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/135,603, filed on May 24, 1999, and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/149,706, filed on Aug. 20, 1999. The subject matter of these earlier filed applications is hereby incorporated by reference.
Provisional Applications (3)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60124878 |
Mar 1999 |
US |
|
60135603 |
May 1999 |
US |
|
60149706 |
Aug 1999 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09528164 |
Mar 2000 |
US |
Child |
09985763 |
Nov 2001 |
US |