Segmented ternary content addressable memory search architecture

A TCAM system with a row of TCAM cells, comprising:

• a first segment of the TCAM cells for determining a match of corresponding search bits of a search string with a first portion of a stored string in the first segment of the TCAM cells using a hierarchical match line structure,
• wherein the hierarchical match line structure includes:
• a plurality of local match lines with each local match line for determining a match of each individual search bit of the corresponding search bits with its respective bit of the first portion of the stored string;
• a global match line for determining a match of the corresponding search bits with the first portion of the string;
• and
• a local to global match line converter for translating outputs of the plurality of local match lines to the global match line;
• an evaluation module for generating a search enable signal if the match of the corresponding search bits with the first portion of the stored string is determined;
• and
• a second segment of the TCAM cells for determining a match of remaining search bits of the search string with a remaining portion of the stored string in response to the search enable signal.

A TCAM device with two rows of TCAM cells, each row of the TCAM cells comprising:

• a first segment of the TCAM cells for determining a match of corresponding search bits of a search string with a first portion of a stored string in the first segment of the TCAM cells;
• an evaluation module for generating a search enable signal if the match of the corresponding search bits with the first portion of the stored string is determined;
• a second segment of the TCAM cells for determining a match of a second portion of search bits of the search string with a second portion of the stored string in response to the search enable signal,
• wherein, the first portion and the second portion of the search bits comprise half of the search bits;
• and wherein the first portion and the second portion of the store string comprise half of the stored string.