Abstract: A tag mask generation method comprises receiving a section_selector flag indicating whether a tag mask for a section of a network packet is to be generated; receiving from a parser a parse information for the network packet, wherein the parse information includes a section_pointer that indicates a location of the section in the network packet; generating a pointer based on the section_pointer when the section_selector indicates that the tag mask for the section is to be generated; receiving a base mask for the section; and generating the tag mask via a shifter by shifting the base mask by the amount indicated by the pointer. The parse information may further include a section_pointer_valid flag indicating whether the section is included in the network packet, and the method may further comprise including the tag mask in a combined tag mask when the section_pointer_valid flag indicates that the section is included in the network packet.

Abstract: A tag mask generation method comprises receiving a section_selector flag indicating whether a tag mask for a section of a network packet is to be generated; receiving from a parser a parse information for the network packet, wherein the parse information includes a section_pointer that indicates a location of the section in the network packet; generating a pointer based on the section_pointer when the section_selector indicates that the tag mask for the section is to be generated; receiving a base mask for the section; and generating the tag mask via a shifter by shifting the base mask by the amount indicated by the pointer. The parse information may further include a section_pointer_valid flag indicating whether the section is included in the network packet, and the method may further comprise including the tag mask in a combined tag mask when the section_pointer_valid flag indicates that the section is included in the network packet.

Abstract: An optical correlator includes an image production device and an image capture device disposed in a common plane. An optical device such as a lens or mirror provides a Fourier transform of image information from the image production device onto the image capture device. An advantage of embodiments of the invention is its small size.