Fsa context switch architecture for programmable intelligent search memory

Abstract

Memory architecture provides capabilities for high performance content search. The architecture creates an innovative memory that can be programmed with content search rules which are used by the memory to evaluate presented content for matching with the programmed rules. When the content being searched matches any of the rules programmed in the Programmable Intelligent Search Memory (PRISM) action(s) associated with the matched rule(s) are taken. Content search rules comprise of regular expressions which are converted to finite state automata (FSA) and then programmed in PRISM for evaluating content with the search rules. PRISM architecture comprises of a plurality of programmable PRISM Search Engines (PSE) organized in PRISM memory clusters that are used simultaneously to search content presented to PRISM. A context switching architecture enables transitioning of PSE states between different input contexts.

1 . A memory architecture comprising programmable intelligent search memory for content search wherein said programmable intelligent search memory comprises a context switch architecture and performs regular expression based search, said content comprising a plurality of sessions or flows or streams or the like forming a plurality of content search contexts for said programmable intelligent search memory, said context switch architecture to load or store at least one of said plurality of content search contexts to or from said programmable intelligent search memory. 
     
     
         2 . An integrated circuit chip comprising programmable intelligent search memory for content search wherein said programmable intelligent search memory comprises a context switch architecture and performs regular expression based search, said content comprising a plurality of sessions or flows or streams or the like forming a plurality of content search contexts for said programmable intelligent search memory, said context switch architecture to load or store at least one of said plurality of content search contexts to or from said programmable intelligent search memory. 
     
     
         3 . An integrated circuit chip of  claim 2  further comprising a processor comprising memory, said memory comprising said programmable intelligent search memory for content search, wherein said programmable intelligent search memory performs regular expression based search and further comprises of a plurality of programmable search engines to perform search using a plurality of regular expressions, said plurality of regular expressions converted into plurality of finite state automata to program in said plurality of programmable search engines.