Abstract: A search engine configured to determine whether an input string including a plurality of input characters matches a regular expression including an inexact pattern including a specified range of instances of pattern characters each belonging to a specified set of characters, the search engine including a microcontroller having an input to receive a microprogram embodying the inexact pattern, a first co-processor coupled to the microcontroller and dedicated to determine whether each input character in a first portion of the input string is a member of the specified set of characters, and a second co-processor coupled to the microcontroller and dedicated to determine whether the number of input characters in the first portion of the input string falls within the specified range.

Abstract: A network system includes a content search system for determining whether an input string matches a regular expression comprising an exact pattern and an inexact pattern, the content search system including a first search circuit dedicated to perform an exact string match operation to determine whether the input string contains a first portion that matches the exact pattern, and a second search circuit dedicated to perform an inexact string match operation to determine whether the input string contains a second portion that matches the inexact pattern.

Abstract: A content search circuit for determining whether an input string matches one or more of a plurality of regular expressions, the content search circuit including an instruction memory for storing a plurality of microprograms, each microprogram embodying a corresponding one of the regular expressions, a control circuit having an input to receive the input string, and having a number of outputs, and a plurality of search engines, each having a first input coupled to a corresponding output of the control circuit and having a second input coupled to the instruction memory, wherein each search engine is selectable to execute any of the microprograms stored in the instruction memory to search the input string for any of the regular expressions embodied in the microprograms.

Abstract: A search engine configured to determine whether an input string including a plurality of input characters matches a regular expression including an inexact pattern including a specified range of instances of pattern characters each belonging to a specified set of characters, the search engine including a microcontroller having an input to receive a microprogram embodying the inexact pattern, a first co-processor coupled to the microcontroller and dedicated to determine whether each input character in a first portion of the input string is a member of the specified set of characters, and a second co-processor coupled to the microcontroller and dedicated to determine whether the number of input characters in the first portion of the input string falls within the specified range.

Abstract: A network system includes a content search system for determining whether an input string matches a regular expression comprising an exact pattern and an inexact pattern, the content search system including a first search circuit dedicated to perform an exact string match operation to determine whether the input string contains a first portion that matches the exact pattern, and a second search circuit dedicated to perform an inexact string match operation to determine whether the input string contains a second portion that matches the inexact pattern.

Abstract: A content search circuit for determining whether an input string matches one or more of a plurality of regular expressions, the content search circuit including an instruction memory for storing a plurality of microprograms, each microprogram embodying a corresponding one of the regular expressions, a control circuit having an input to receive the input string, and having a number of outputs, and a plurality of search engines, each having a first input coupled to a corresponding output of the control circuit and having a second input coupled to the instruction memory, wherein each search engine is selectable to execute any of the microprograms stored in the instruction memory to search the input string for any of the regular expressions embodied in the microprograms.