Abstract: In response to receiving one or more packets from an interface, an anchoring border router classifies the traffic flow and either transmits the packets based upon the routing control table as usual, or determines that the packets of the traffic flow are to be forwarded to a forwarding border router. Upon determining that the packets are to be forwarded, the packets are encapsulated with a routing encapsulation key corresponding to a routing path and are forwarded from the anchoring border router to the forwarding border router via a routing encapsulation tunnel. When a forwarding border router receives the redirected packets over the routing encapsulation tunnel, the forwarding border router removes the routing encapsulation key from the packets of the traffic flow and transmits the packets via a routing path corresponding to the routing encapsulation key.

Abstract: A route lookup system, a TCAM, and an NP are disclosed. A TCAM includes a high-speed serial interface, wherein the TCAM transmits signals through the high-speed serial interface. Embodiments of the present invention generally increase the data transmission rate, reduce the number of signal lines, simplify the PCB design, reduce the chip size, and facilitate PCB wiring. Moreover, the small number of signal lines leads to a decrease of required I/O pins, and reduces the packaging size of the chip.