Transactional memory that performs a TCAM 32-bit lookup operation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8930675-B2
Application number	US-201213675353-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2012
Priority date	Nov 13, 2012
Publication date	Jan 6, 2015
Grant date	Jan 6, 2015

Abstract

A transactional memory (TM) receives a lookup command across a bus from a processor. The command includes a memory address. In response to the command, the TM pulls an input value (IV). The memory address is used to read a word containing multiple result values (RVs), multiple reference values, and multiple mask values from memory. A selecting circuit within the TM uses a starting bit position and a mask size to select a portion of the IV. The portion of the IV is a lookup key value (LKV). The LKV is masked by each mask value thereby generating multiple masked values. Each masked value is compared to a reference value thereby generating multiple comparison values. A lookup table generates a selector value based upon the comparison values. A result value is selected based on the selector value. The selected result value is then communicated to the processor via the bus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
(a) receiving a lookup command onto a transactional memory, wherein the lookup command includes a memory address, and wherein the transactional memory includes a lookup engine and a memory unit;
(b) receiving an input value (IV);
(c) using the memory address to read a word out of the memory unit, wherein the word includes a plurality of result values (RVs), a plurality of reference values, and a plurality of mask values;
(d) storin…

Assignees

• Stark Gavin J
• Netronome Systems Inc

Inventors

• Stark Gavin J

Classifications

• G06F12/023

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F2212/251

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F9/467 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F9/34

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F12/08

  Physics · mapped topic