Search tree algorithms

A system for preclassifying information packets, the system comprising:

• an input interface with a plurality of ports to accept information packets;
• a packet parsing engine (PPE) connected to a corresponding port to receive a packet and differentiate the packet into segments, the PPE including:
• a packet random access memory (RAM) for storing packet segments;
• a decision tree RAM for storing a logic decision tree with multiple tree levels,
• where
• each node includes a plurality of node reference segments and corresponding node comparison operators;
• a controller having an interface for accessing the packet RAM and decision tree RAM, for
• comparing segments in the packet to nodes in the decision tree, and assigning a classification to the packet;
• a classification database having an interface to accept classification pointers from the plurality of PPEs, and an output to supply classification attributes for packets in response to receiving the classification pointers;
• a processor having an interface to receive packets and classification attributes associated with the packets, the processor supplying processed packets responsive to their respective classification attributes;
• and
• a user interface (UI) configured to permit selecting of segments in a packet to be written.