Importance

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Abstract

CAM devices and methods of operating CAM devices include mapping search word portions to partitions and virtual subpartitions in a CAM core. Some embodiments of the invention can provide, for example, a hybrid CAM device that includes a mapping circuit for implementing such partitioning and virtual subpartitioning that is implemented in memory, such as a random access memory (RAM) or a combination of CAM and RAM, that is integrated with the CAM core. In some embodiments, a CAM device includes a search word input, a CAM core comprising a plurality of CAM cells, and a virtual partitioning circuit that selectively enables a partition in the CAM core for search of a portion of a search word at the search word input responsive to the search word, and that provides a mapping of the search word to a comparand input to the CAM core. The mapping defines a virtual subpartition in the CAM core. The invention may be embodied as apparatus and methods.

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First Claim