Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for performing lookup operations using associative memories, including, but not limited to modifying search keys within an associative memory based on modification mappings, forcing a no-hit condition in response to a highest-priority matching entry including a force no-hit indication, selecting among various sets or banks of associative memory entries in determining a lookup result, and detecting and propagating error conditions. In one implementation, each block retrieves a modification mapping from a local memory and modifies a received search key based on the mapping and received modification data. In one implementation, each of the associative memory entries includes a field for indicating that a successful match on the entry should or should not force a no-hit result. In one implementation, an indication of which associative memory blocks or sets of entries to use in a particular lookup operation is retrieved from a memory.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for performing lookup operations using associative memories, including, but not limited to modifying search keys within an associative memory based on modification mappings, forcing a no hit condition in response to a highest priority matching entry including a force no hit indication, selecting among various blocks or sets of associative memory entries in determining a lookup result, and detecting and propagating error conditions. In one implementation, indications of which associative memory blocks to use and/or enable in a particular lookup operation are retrieved from one or more memories, such as that based on received a profile ID. In one implementation, which may or may not be in a cascaded configuration, one or more identified or received error conditions are propagated in such a manner as to identify a source of each error condition.