Methods and systems for network address lookup engines

Abstract

Internet routers are a key component in today's Internet. Each router forwards received packets toward their final destinations based upon a Longest Prefix Matching (LPM) algorithm select an entry from a routing table that determines the closest location to the final packet destination among several candidates. Prior art solutions to LPM lookup offer different tradeoffs and that it would be beneficial for a design methodology that provides for low power large scale IP lookup engines addressing the limitations within the prior art. According to embodiments of the invention a low-power large-scale IP lookup engine may be implemented exploiting clustered neural networks (CNNs). In addition to reduced power consumption embodiments of the invention provide reduced transistor count providing for reduced semiconductor die footprints and hence reduced die cost.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61 / 761,998 filed on Feb. 7, 2013 entitled “Methods and Systems for Network Address Lookup Engines.”FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to address look-up engines and more particularly to address look-up engines with low power, die area efficiency, and compatibility with high speed packet datarates.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]In 2011 Cisco Systems 5th Annual Visual Networking Index Forecast the networking giant forecast that global Internet traffic will reach approximately 1 zettabyte a year by 2015 (966×1018). Breaking this down this equates to approximately 80 exabytes per month in 2015, up from approximately 20 exabytes per month in 2010, or 245 terabytes per second. This global Internet traffic will arise from approximately 3 billion people using approximately 6 billion portable and fixed electronic devices. At the same time average br...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention aims to improve address look-up engines by providing them with low power, effective use of space, and compatibility with high-speed data rates. This will help to overcome the limitations of previous generations of address look-up engines.

Problems solved by technology

In contrast Noda employs eDRAMs to reduce the size of TCAM cells for low power dissipation, however this tends to be a complex process.

However, as the memory size is O(2n) where n is the word length, this leads to an unacceptably large memory of 1,039 Mb for long words (e.g. 144 bits).

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