Method and system for packet processing according to a table lookup

1. A method for packet processing according to a lookup table, comprising:

receiving a packet, wherein the packet includes a packet header information, and the packet header includes control information;

providing a lookup table with M entries, wherein each entry includes N conditions and a result/action indicator, and the M entries are sorted in a priority order;

matching the information with the N conditions; and

applying the result/action indicator in the matched entry with the highest priority on the packet,

wherein for each information in the packet header, a bit map array is given after the matching.

2. The method for packet processing according to a lookup table according to claim 1 , wherein the bit map arrays from each information in the packet header are processed with a logic OR procedure to generate an aggregated bit map array.

3. The method for packet processing according to a lookup table according to claim 2 , wherein the aggregated bit map arrays are processed with a logic AND procedure to generate a final aggregated bit map array with the priority order.

4. The method for packet processing according to a lookup table according to claim 1 , wherein the result/action indicator indicates to let the packet pass, drop the packet, forward the packet, or modify the contents of the packet headers.

5. The method for packet processing according to a lookup table according to claim 1 , wherein the information of the packet header includes an IP version, a source/destination IP address, a time-to-live count, a source/destination MAC address, a VLAN tag, a TCP/UDP source/destination port number.

6. The method for packet processing according to a lookup table according to claim 1 , wherein the priority order is sorted by a software.

7. A system for packet processing according to a lookup table, comprising:

a receiver for receiving a packet, wherein the packet includes a packet header, and the packet header consists of control information;

a memory, storing a lookup tablewith M entries, wherein each entry includes N conditions and a result/action indicator, and the M entries are sorted in a priority order; and

a processor, wherein the processor matches the information with the N conditions, and applies the result/action indicator in the matched entry with the highest priority on the packet,

wherein for each information in the packet header, a bit map array is given after the matching.

8. The system for packet processing according to a lookup table according to claim 7 , wherein the bit map arrays from each information in the packet header are processed with a logic OR procedure to generate an aggregated bit map array.

9. The system for packet processing according to a lookup table according to claim 7 , wherein the aggregated bit map arrays are processed with a logic AND procedure to generate a final aggregated bit map array with the priority order.

10. The system for packet processing according to a lookup table according to claim 7 , wherein the result/action indicator indicates to let the packet pass, drop the packet, forward the packet, or modify the contents of the packet headers.

11. The system for packet processing according to a lookup table according to claim 7 , wherein the information of the packet header includes an IP version, a source/destination IP address, a time-to-live count, a source/destination MAC address, a VLAN tag, a TCP/UDP source/destination port number.

12. The system for packet processing according to a lookup table according to claim 7 , wherein the priority order is sorted by a software.