Computing system and method of operation thereof

A computing method comprising:

• receiving one or more search parameters;
• encoding the search parameters according to a particular one of a plurality of search encodings to generate pairs of word line voltages, the particular search encoding enabling a search for a match with a feature stored in a pair of floating-gate transistors according to a particular one of a plurality of feature encodings, and wherein the particular search encoding and the particular feature encoding enable representation of a one, a zero, and either a one or a zero;
• driving pairs of word lines of a plurality of series-connected instances of the pair of floating-gate transistors according to the generated word line voltages, the series-connected instances organized as respective pluralities of memory strings operable in parallel to affect a plurality of shared match lines, each shared match line coupled to two or more of the memory strings, and each pair of word lines coupled to at least two of the instances of the pair of floating-gate transistors;
• sensing voltage changes on the shared match lines to determine which of the shared match lines have a voltage change greater than a predetermined sense threshold;
• and
• providing results of the determining as indications of relative matching between the search parameters and the stored features.

A computing system comprising:

• interface circuitry to enable a host agent to provide a search and to receive one or more results of the search;
• a plurality of blocks of memory strings, each block comprising a respective plurality of memory strings each receiving a same set of word lines having voltages determinable responsive to the search;
• a search encoder enabled to receive the search and drive the word lines according to a search encoding;
• a plurality of sense amplifiers each coupled to a corresponding one of the memory strings from each of the blocks;
• and
• priority encoder circuitry enabled to receive match indications from the sense amplifiers;
• wherein the sense amplifiers are enabled to determine, with respect to matches between (1) feature information stored in the memory strings coupled to the sense amplifier and (2) the word lines received by the memory strings coupled to the sense amplifier, that (3) there are no matches and (4) there is at least one match;
• and
• wherein the priority encoder circuitry, based on the determinations of the sense amplifiers, is enabled to indicate at least a portion of the results as a highest priority match of any matches identified by the sense amplifiers.