Reducing the number of block masks required for programming multiple access control list in an associative memory

An apparatus comprising one or more processors and a memory, wherein the memory stores one or more instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, perform steps for identifying a combined ordering of masks corresponding to a plurality of access control lists (ACLs), the plurality of ACLs including n ACLs, with n being an integer greater than one, said steps comprising:

• identifying a required ordering of masks for each of the plurality of ACLs;
• generating an n-dimensional array wherein each axis of the n-dimensional array corresponds to masks in their said requisite order of a different one of the plurality of ACLs, the n-dimensional array progressively identifying numbers of different masks required for subset orderings of masks required for subsets of the plurality of ACLs;
• and
• traversing the n-dimensional array to identify a sequence of masks corresponding to a single ordering of masks including masks required for each of the plurality of ACLs, wherein the single ordering of masks maintains the ordering of masks required for each of the plurality of ACLs with one or more masks corresponding to a different ACL or other feature in between one or more consecutive masks of an ACL of the plurality of ACLs.

A method for identifying a combined ordering of masks corresponding to a first access control list (ACL) and a second ACL, the method comprising:

• identifying a first ordering of masks required for the first ACL;
• identifying a second ordering of masks required the second ACL;
• generating a matrix of the first and second orderings of masks, the matrix progressively identifying numbers of different masks required for subset orderings of masks required for subsets of the first and second ACLs;
• and
• traversing the matrix to identify a sequence of masks corresponding to a single ordering of masks including masks required for the first ACL and the second ACL, wherein the single ordering of masks maintains the first ordering and second orderings of masks with one or more masks corresponding to a different ACL or other feature in between one or more consecutive masks of the first and second ACLs.

An apparatus comprising one or more processors and a memory, wherein the memory stores one or more instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, perform steps for identifying a combined ordering of masks corresponding to a first access control list (ACL) and a second ACL, said steps comprising:

• identifying a first ordering of masks required for the first ACL;
• identifying a second ordering of masks required the second ACL;
• generating a matrix of the first and second orderings of masks, the matrix progressively identifying numbers of different masks required for subset orderings of masks required for subsets of the first and second ACLs;
• and
• traversing the matrix to identify a sequence of masks corresponding to a single ordering of masks including masks required for the first ACL and the second ACL, wherein the single ordering of masks maintains the first ordering and second orderings of masks with one or more masks corresponding to a different ACL or other feature in between one or more consecutive masks of the first and second ACLs.