High performance hash-based lookup for packet processing in a communication network

A packet processing node in a communication network, said packet processing node comprising:

• an interface circuit for receiving a packet containing a flow identifier;
• a control unit for processing the packet, said control unit configured to:
• generate a full search key from the flow identifier;
• determine a corresponding hash bucket in a hash table based on the full search key;
• create a compressed search key from the signature bits extracted from predetermined bit locations in the full search key;
• predict a hash entry index for a target hash entry in the hash bucket by comparing the compressed search key to signature patterns that are mapped one-to-one to hash entries in the hash bucket, wherein the target hash entry comprises a hash key and associated data;
• and
• perform a data lookup by comparing the full search key to the hash key in the target hash entry.