US Patent 7613755 Signature searching system

In a signature searching system, contents of a ternary content addressable memory (CAM) are searched to obtain a first index value that corresponds to a first group of predetermined data sequences. The first group of predetermined data sequences is selected from among a plurality of groups of predetermined data sequences based, at least in part, on the first index value, and a determination made as to whether any of the predetermined data sequences within the first group is present within a stream of data.