Variable key type search engine and method therefor

Abstract

A system and method for storing arranged data in a memory, and for extracting the data therefrom, the system including: (a) a random access memory (RAM) including: (i) a first array of cells, the first array having at least two dimensions and having rows and columns, the first array designed and configured to contain a plurality of at least two kinds of key entries, each of the cells having a unique address and being accessible via an input key, each of the kinds of key entries being arranged in monotonic order, and (ii) a second array of cells, the second array having at least two dimensions and having rows and columns, the second array having a plurality of data entries, each of the data entries being associated with a particular one of the key entries, and (b) processing means designed and configured to search, in response to the input key, the plurality of key entries so as to identify a match.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.