Pipeline using match-action blocks

A method comprising:

• generating, by a match table, an index for operation information specifying one or more operations for a matching entry stored in the match table;
• identifying, by logic implemented in circuitry and based on the index for operation information, one or more instructions in one or more storage devices, the one or more instructions comprising one or more of an instruction in a matching entry of an action instruction memory or an instruction in a matching entry of an array of function arguments, wherein the identified one or more instructions are associated with an entry stored in the match table matching a first entry;
• receiving, by the logic, one or more operands from an output bus;
• generating, by the logic, processed data based on the one or more instructions and the one or more operands;
• and
• outputting, by the logic, a second query based on the entry stored in the match table matching the first query.

An apparatus comprising:

• ternary content-addressable memory (TCAM) configured to store a plurality of entries, each entry of the plurality of entries including a state value and a key value, wherein the TCAM specifies a matching entry in response to being queried by query data received from an output bus;
• one or more storage devices configured to store operation information for each of the plurality of entries stored in the TCAM, wherein the operation information specifies one or more instructions associated with each respective entry in the plurality of entries stored in the TCAM;
• and
• logic connected to the output bus, the TCAM, and the one or more storage devices, wherein the logic is configured to:
• receive one or more operands from the output bus;
• identify one or more instructions from the one or more storage devices, the one or more instructions comprising one or more of an instruction in a matching entry of an action instruction memory or an instruction in a matching entry of an array of function arguments, wherein the identified one or more instructions are associated with an entry in the plurality of entries matching a first query;
• generate, based on the one or more instructions and the one or more operands, processed data;
• and
• output a second query based on the entry in the plurality of entries matching the first query.