Method and apparatus for message routing, including a content addressable memory

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 , comprising the step of: e) storing at least a portion of the data packet, while the router is still receiving a portion of the data packet, in a buffer for sending to the identified one of the networks.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 , wherein steps c) and e) are in response to the CAM having stored therein the destination network address of the data packet and the identity of the one of the networks coupled to the router and corresponding to the destination address of the data packet, and the method comprises: f) identifying, by a processor searching a database, one of the networks coupled to the router and corresponding to the destination address of the data packet, wherein the CAM does not have stored therein the destination network address of the data packet and the identity of the one of the networks coupled to the router and corresponding to the destination address of the data packet; g) storing the entire data packet in the output buffer for the corresponding network identified in the step f) after the router has received the entire data packet, in response to the CAM not having stored therein the destination network address of the data packet and the identity of the one of the networks coupled to the router and corresponding to the destination address of the data packet; and h) storing, in the CAM, the destination network address of the data packet, and the corresponding identity of the one of the networks coupled to the router which was identified in step f).

Claim 5

A router coupled to a plurality of networks, for receiving a data packet from a first one of the networks and routing the data packet to a second one the networks, said data packet including a first portion having a destination address for the packet, the router comprising: receiving means for receiving a data packet, wherein the data packet includes a first portion having a destination network address; content addressable memory (“CAM”) connected to the router and having network router address information stored therein; and means for inputting the destination network address to the CAM, while the data packet is not fully received and the receiving means is still receiving a portion of the data packet, so that the CAM identifies one of the networks coupled to the router corresponding to the destination address of the data packet while the receiving means is still receiving a portion of the data packet; a hash table to track how frequently an entry in the CAM is accessed; and means to drop from the CAM those entries which are seldom accessed.

Claim 6

A router coupled to a plurality of networks, for receiving a data packet from a first one of the networks and routing the data packet to a second one the networks, said data packet including a first portion having a destination address for the packet, the router comprising: receiving means for receiving a data packet, wherein the data packet includes a first portion having a destination network address; content addressable memory (“CAM”) connected to the router and having network router address information stored therein; and means for inputting the destination network address to the CAM, while the data packet is not fully received and the receiving means is still receiving a portion of the data packet, so that the CAM identifies one of the networks coupled to the router corresponding to the destination address of the data packet while the receiving means is still receiving a portion of the data packet; a hash table to track how frequently an entry in the CAM is accessed; and means to drop from the CAM those entries which are seldom accessed.

Claim 7

The router of claim 4 , comprising: control logic responsive to the CAM for directing the data packet to the network identified by the CAM, so that an output buffer begins receiving the data packet while the receiving means is still receiving a portion of the data packet.

Claim 8

The router of claim 5 , comprising: an input buffer for receiving a data packet from the receiving means; data storage means for storing a computer program and a database of network routing information; and a processor for searching the database, wherein the processor searches the database and identifies one of the networks coupled to the router corresponding to the destination address of the data packet, wherein the CAM does not have stored therein the destination network address of the data packet and the identity of the one of the networks coupled to the router corresponding to the destination address of the data packet, and wherein the processor initiates transferring of the data packet from the input buffer to the output buffer, after the entire data packet has been stored in the input buffer.

Claim 9

The router of claim 6 , comprising: means for storing, in the CAM, the destination network address of the data packet and the corresponding identity of the one of the networks coupled to the router, which were identified by the processor searching the database.