PROTOCOL PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD

1 . An apparatus comprising:

a generation unit configured to generate an address to be provided to a database;

a plurality of search units; and

a processing unit configured to perform a network protocol processing based on a search result by the plurality of search units,

wherein each of the plurality of search units includes:

an input unit configured to input a search key;

a comparison unit configured to compare data output from the database according to the generated address and the search key;

a setting unit configured to set a search start address and a search end address; and

a monitoring unit configured to monitor matching of the generated address and the search end address.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

if another search request is issued while at least one of the plurality of search units is performing a search, data output from the database for the search being performed and the search key for another search are compared by a second search unit and the search end address of another search is set based on the address where another search is started.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein if, while at least one of the plurality of search units is performing a search, another search request that requests a search of data stored at an address different from the address of the search being performed in the database is issued, the search based on another search request is started after the search being performed terminates.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a storage unit configured to store data whose registration in the database is requested, wherein after the search by the plurality of search units terminates, the data stored in the storage unit is registered in the database.

5 . A method comprising:

inputting a search key by an input unit;

generating an address to be provided to a database;

setting a search start address and a search end address;

comparing data output from the database according to the generated address and the search key; and

monitoring matching of the generated address and the search end address.

6 . The method according to claim 5 ,

wherein if another search request is issued while at least one of a plurality of search units is performing a search, data output from the database for the search being performed and the search key for another search are compared by a search device other than the search device performing the search, and the search end address of another search is set based on the address where another search is started.

7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein if, while at least one of the plurality of search units is performing a search, another search request that requests a search of data stored at a different address, the search based on another search request is started after the search being performed terminates.

8 . The method according to claim 6 , further comprising storing data whose registration in the database is requested, wherein after the search terminates, the stored data stored.

9 . A computer readable storage medium storing computer-executable program of instructions for causing a computer to perform a method comprising:

inputting a search key by an input unit;

generating an address to be provided to a database;

setting a search start address and a search end address;

comparing data output from the database according to the generated address and the search key; and

monitoring matching of the generated address and the search end address.