Filter based range check in a network device

A method for processing data in a network device, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a data packet at one port of a plurality of ports;
• setting a filter index value for the data packet;
• filtering the received data packet to obtain filter values;
• determining whether the data packet is within a predetermined socket range concurrently with the filtering of the data packet;
• modifying the received data packet to form the processed data packet based on the filter values;
• and
• sending the processed data packet to an egress port of the plurality of ports;
• wherein the step of determining whether the data packet is within a predetermined socket range comprises performing a lookup of a filter index table using the filter index value.

A network device for processing data, the network device comprising:

• port means for receiving a data packet at one port of a plurality of ports and sending a processed data packet to an egress port of the plurality of ports;
• parsing and modifying means for parsing the received data packet to determine parsed data packet values and for modifying the received data packet to form the processed data packet based on search results;
• searching means for lookup tables using the parsed data packet values and obtaining the search results;
• wherein at least one lookup table of the lookup tables shares at least two different types of entries in that same at least one lookup table and the step of searching the lookup tables comprises distinguishing between the at least two different types of entries in that same at least one lookup table.

A network device for processing data, the network device comprising:

• port means for receiving a data packet at one port of a plurality of ports and sending a processed data packet to an egress port of the plurality of ports;
• setting means for setting a filter index value for the data packet;
• filtering means for filtering the received data packet to obtain filter values;
• socket range means for determining whether the data packet is within a predetermined socket range concurrently with the filtering of the data packet;
• modifying the received data packet to form the processed data packet based on the filter values;
• and
• wherein the socket range means comprises lookup means for performing a lookup of a filter index table using the filter index value.