Associative RAM-based CAM applicable to packet-based broadband systems

Abstract

Content addressable memories (CAM) are devices for fast pattern recognition of a limited set, as opposed to random access memories (RAM) that execute slow pattern recognition of a large set of patterns. Associative RAM-based content addressable memories (AR-CAM) combine fast pattern recognition and very large pattern sets. In this paper, we describe the applicability of AR-CAMs to ultra-high speed packet-based broadband communications systems with aggregate bandwidths of hundreds of Gbps, such as ATM and Internet.