Algorithm engine for use in a pattern matching accelerator

An algorithm engine for searching pattern contexts in an input character stream, comprising:

• a plurality of physical pattern search lanes, each physical pattern search lane comprising:
• control logic operative to receive pattern context search commands and state information from a command unit;
• a classifier operative to generate a class value associated with each input character to be scanned;
• a memory store operative to store a plurality of local rules and a plurality of temporary rules;
• a plurality of pattern search engines, each pattern search engine coupled to its corresponding memory store and operative to execute said pattern context search commands;
• a local results processor (LRP) operative to receive commands from a pattern search engine and to analyze and process partial matches during a search operation thereby assisting said pattern search engines in searching complex regular expression pattern contexts;
• wherein each physical pattern search lane is time multiplexed to create a plurality of logical pattern search lanes, each logical pattern search lane operative to execute independently of other logical pattern search lanes a search command received from a command unit, whereby said command unit operating on two searches may be connected to two logical lanes at the same time;
• and
• wherein a local results processor is associated with each logical pattern search lane and is operative to receive a set of commands from a corresponding logical pattern search engine on partial matches during a search operation and analyze match results to assist in processing complex regular expression pattern contexts.

A method of searching for regular expression based patterns in an input character stream, comprising:

• receiving pattern context search commands from a data engine and storing rules compiled therefrom in a memory store for storing a plurality of local rules and a plurality of temporary rules;
• executing said pattern context search commands from said memory store on a plurality of pattern search engines organized into a plurality of physical pattern search lanes;
• time multiplexing each said physical pattern search lane to create a plurality of logical pattern search lanes, each logical pattern search lane executing independently of other logical pattern search lanes a search command received from said data engine, whereby a command unit in said data engine operating on two searches may be connected to two logical lanes at the same time;
• providing a local results processor (LRP) associated with each physical pattern search lane for assisting said pattern search engines in searching complex pattern contexts;
• and
• wherein a local results processor is associated with each logical pattern search lane and is operative to receive a set of commands from a corresponding logical pattern search engine on partial matches during a search operation and analyze match results to assist in processing complex regular expression pattern contexts.