Hardware programmable device with integrated search engine

Abstract

The invention relates to a hardware programmable device with an integrated search engine. An integrated circuit die having hardware processing elements with a configurable embedded search engine for a content addressable memory is disclosed. The circuit die includes an area having hardware processor circuits. A search engine is coupled to the circuit die via an interconnection. The search engine receives requests for data content. A content addressable memory is coupled to the search engine. The content addressable memory is searchable by the search engine in response to a search request from the hardware processor circuit for data content.

Description

technical field [0001] The present disclosure relates generally to programmable hardware, and more particularly to integrated search engines for hardware processors. Background technique [0002] Hardware devices often require data in order to perform different functions. For example, the controller of a network router needs data about incoming binary IP addresses in order to route packets quickly. The controller must access the data stored in memory and return the correct port for the corresponding IP address in order to route the packet. Therefore, the hardware device needs access to the memory where the data is stored and must be able to run searches quickly to find the address of the desired data. The speed at which a hardware device is operated depends in part on the speed required to find and thus access the required data in the memory structure. [0003] Typically, standard memory structures (ie, SRAM / DRAM) are used to store data for programmable devices. Finding ...

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Problems solved by technology

The use of a separate TCAM memory also consumes substantially a large number of input / output ports and requires a large footprint on a printed circuit board

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