NETWORK SYSTEM HAVING ROUTER, IMPROVED ROUTER AND ASSOCIATIVE MEMORY USED IN ITS ROUTER

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To transfer data by the shortest network connection. SOLUTION: The shortest mask information is taken out on the shortest mask line by inputting retrieval data into an associative memory having the shortest mask output function, using the associated memory having the shortest mask output function based on the result wherein an AND operation making a mask effective state true to all of mask information corresponding to storage data coinciding with retrieval data 105 is executed. The shortest mask information taken out as a secondary retrieval is inputted, as retrieval data, into the associated memory having the shortest mask function and the only mask coincident line of the word wherein the mask information and the shortest mask information coincide is selected from among coincident storage data as the retrieval result. An optimal memory address signal 303 is obtained by encoding the selected mask coincident line, a transfer address 305 enabling the shortest network connection is obtained, and output transfer data 309 are generated by synthesizing a data part 312 and a destination network address 311 in an input transfer data 308.