Content-addressable memory system capable of fully parallel magnitude comparisons

Abstract

A content-addressable memory for storing a plurality of words, each word comprising a plurality of data subfields, and each data subfield comprising a plurality of data bits. Query operations simultaneously compare input data to all subfields in all words and selectably test each subfield for either equality, less-than, less-than-or-equal-to, greater-than, greater-than-or-equal-to, inequality, or don't care. A flag memory comprising a plurality of flag bits for each word stores the results of a selectable Boolean operation performed on a set of flag bits and the query results. A mask register causes selected bit positions within words to be treated as not being present. A priority resolver finds the highest priority flag bit in a particular logic state for selecting a word for reading or writing. A content-addressable memory system composed of a plurality of content-addressable memories and an external priority resolver for selecting between content-addressable memories for reading or writing.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.