1. A method for configuring a content-addressable memory having a specification memory, a bit selector circuit, and an entry selector circuit, the method comprising the steps of:
separating a plurality of entries of the content-addressable memory into a plurality of different groups;
loading first entries from a first group of said plurality of different groups into the specification memory;
selecting a number of bit positions for said first group as distinguishing bit positions;
configuring the bit selector circuit with said selected distinguishing bit positions; and
configuring the entry selector circuit with first values from said first entries at said distinguishing bit positions.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first entries have do-not-care bits that are contiguous, wherein said first entries are separated into said plurality of different groups based on a number of said do-not-care bits in each of said first entries.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said separating step includes the steps of:
organizing said plurality of entries into a tree having at least two potential branches from each node of said tree, wherein said potential branches comprise at least a 0-branch and a 1-branch; and
traversing a node of said tree by placing one entry from said 0-branch in said first group and one entry from said 1-branch in a second group.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting said distinguishing bit positions comprises choosing a minimum number of bit positions that uniquely distinguish said first entries from each other.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said distinguishing bit positions are selected before separating said plurality of entries of the content addressable memory into said plurality of different groups.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein selecting said distinguishing bit positions comprises analyzing statistical information to identify bit positions that uniquely distinguish said first entries from each other.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein said distinguishing bit positions are selected at random.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting distinguishing bit positions comprises not permitting do-not-care values in said distinguishing bit positions.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein second-stage entries comprise said first values from said first entries at said distinguishing bit positions, the method further comprising the steps of:
separating said second-stage entries into a plurality of second-stage groups based on magnitudes of said second-stage entries;
selecting a number of second-stage bit positions from a first second-stage group as second-stage distinguishing bit positions;
configuring a second-stage bit selector circuit with said selected second-stage distinguishing bit positions; and
configuring a second-stage entry selector circuit with second-stage values from said second-stage entries at said second-stage distinguishing bit positions.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein said first entries are loaded into said specification memory at the same location that said first values of said first entries at said distinguishing bit positions are loaded in said entry selector circuit.
11. A system for configuring a content-addressable memory having a specification memory, a bit selector circuit, and an entry selector circuit, the system comprising:
separating means for separating a plurality of entries of the content-addressable memory into a plurality of different groups;
loading means for loading first entries from a first group of said plurality of different groups into the specification memory;
selecting means for selecting a number of bit positions for said first group as distinguishing bit positions;
bit selector configurating means for configuring the bit selector circuit with said selected distinguishing bit positions; and
entry selector configurating means for configuring the entry selector circuit with first values from said first entries at said distinguishing bit positions.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein said first entries have do-not-care bits that are contiguous, wherein said separating means separates said first entries into said plurality of different groups based on a number of said do-not-care bits in each of said first entries.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein said separating means comprises:
organizing means for organizing said plurality of entries into a tree having at least two potential branches from each node of said tree, wherein said potential branches comprise at least a 0-branch and a 1-branch; and
traversing means for traversing a node of said tree by placing one entry from said 0-branch in said first group and one entry from said 1-branch in a second group.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein said selection means is further adapted to choose a minimum number of bit positions that uniquely distinguish said first entries from each other.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein said selection means selects distinguishing bit positions before said separating means separates said plurality of entries of the content addressable memory into said plurality of different groups.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein said selection means is further adapted to analyze statistical information to identify bit positions that uniquely distinguish said first entries from each other.
17. The system of claim 15, wherein said selection means is further adapted to select distinguishing bit positions at random.
18. The system of claim 11, wherein said selection means does not permit do-not-care values in said distinguishing bit positions.
19. The system of claim 11, wherein second-stage entries comprise said first values from said first entries at said distinguishing bit positions, the system further comprising:
second-stage separating means for separating said second-stage entries into a plurality of second-stage groups based on magnitudes of said second-stage entries;
second-stage selection means for selecting a number of second-stage bit positions from a first second-stage group as second-stage distinguishing bit positions; and
second-stage bit selector configuration means for configuring a second-stage bit selector circuit with said selected second-stage distinguishing bit positions;
second-stage entry selector configuration means for configuring a second-stage entry selector circuit with second-stage values from said second-stage entries at said second-stage distinguishing bit positions.
20. The system of claim 11, wherein said loading means loads said first entries into said specification memory at the same location that said first values of said first entries at said distinguishing bit positions are loaded in said entry selector circuit.
21. An integrated circuit for configuring a content-addressable memory having a specification memory, a bit selector circuit, and an entry selector circuit, the integrated circuit comprising:
a supervisory processor adapted to:
separate a plurality of entries of the content-addressable memory into a plurality of different groups; and
select a number of bit positions for a first group as distinguishing bit positions; and
an output device coupled to said supervisory processor, the bit selector circuit, and the entry selector circuit, said output device adapted to:
write first entries from a first group of said plurality of different groups into the specification memory;
configure the bit selector circuit with said selected distinguishing bit positions; and
configure the entry selector circuit with first values from said first entries at said distinguishing bit positions.
22. The integrated circuit of claim 21, wherein said first entries have do-not-care bits that are contiguous, wherein said supervisory processor separates said first entries into said plurality of different groups based on a number of said do-not-care bits in each of said first entries.
23. The integrated circuit of claim 21, wherein said supervisory processor is further adapted to:
organize said plurality of entries into a tree having at least two potential branches from each node of said tree, wherein said potential branches comprise at least a 0-branch and a 1-branch; and
traverse a node of said tree by placing one entry from said 0-branch in said first group and one entry from said 1-branch in a second group.
24. The integrated circuit of claim 21, wherein said supervisory processor is further adapted to choose a minimum number of bit positions that uniquely distinguish said first entries from each other.
25. The integrated circuit of claim 21, wherein said supervisory processor selects distinguishing bit positions before separating said plurality of entries of the content addressable memory into said plurality of different groups.
26. The integrated circuit of claim 25, wherein said supervisory processor is further adapted to analyze statistical information to identify bit positions that uniquely distinguish said first entries from each other.
27. The integrated circuit of claim 25, wherein said supervisory processor is further adapted to select distinguishing bit positions at random.
28. The integrated circuit of claim 21, wherein said supervisory processor does not permit do-not-care values in said distinguishing bit positions.
29. The integrated circuit of claim 21, wherein second-stage entries comprise said first values from said first entries at said distinguishing bit positions, the supervisory processor further adapted to:
separate said second-stage entries into a plurality of second-stage groups based on magnitudes of said second-stage entries;
select a number of second-stage bit positions from a first second-stage group as second-stage distinguishing bit positions;
and wherein said output device is further adapted to:
configure a second-stage bit selector circuit with said selected second-stage distinguishing bit positions; and
configure a second-stage entry selector circuit with second-stage values from said second-stage entries at said second-stage distinguishing bit positions.
30. The integrated circuit of claim 21, wherein said output device writes said first entries into said specification memory at the same location that said first values of said first entries at said distinguishing bit positions are loaded in said entry selector circuit.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A modular building system, comprising:
a selection of tube sections,
a selection of removable connectors, wherein said connectors connect said tube sections together to form a structural skeleton comprising geometrically shaped sides, and
a selection of geometrically shaped panel sections wherein said panel sections structurally engage said geometrically shaped sides of said structural skeleton.
2. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said tube sections have a closed cross section.
3. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said tube sections have an open cross section.
4. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said tube sections comprise square tubing.
5. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said tube sections comprise round tubing.
6. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said tube sections comprise at least one channel to receive a flange on said connectors.
7. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said tube sections comprise a channel to receive a flange on said panel sections.
8. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said tube sections comprise a plurality of holes for receiving a fastener.
9. The modular building system according to claim 8, wherein said holes are distributed along the length of said tube sections.
10. The modular building system according to claim 8, wherein said holes are evenly spaced along the length of said tube sections.
11. The modular building system according to claim 8, wherein said holes are unevenly spaced along the length of said tube sections.
12. The modular building system according to claim 8, wherein said fasteners comprise bolts.
13. The modular building system according to claim 8, wherein said fasteners comprise rivets.
14. The modular building system according to claim 8, wherein said fasteners comprise screws.
15. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said removable connectors have a closed cross section.
16. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said removable connectors have an open cross section.
17. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said removable connectors comprise square tubing.
18. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said removable connectors comprise round tubing.
19. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said removable connectors comprise at least one flange for engaging a channel on said tube sections.
20. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said removable connectors comprise a plurality of holes for receiving a fastener.
21. The modular building system according to claim 20, wherein said holes are distributed along the length of said removable connectors.
22. The modular building system according to claim 20, wherein said holes are evenly spaced along the length of said removable connectors.
23. The modular building system according to claim 20, wherein said holes are unevenly spaced along the length of said removable connectors.
24. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said panel sections comprise at least one flange for engaging said tube sections.
25. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said panel sections comprise a plurality of holes for receiving a fastener.
26. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said panel sections comprise square panels.
27. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said panel sections comprise triangular panels.
28. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said panel sections comprise rectangular panels.
29. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said panel sections comprise circular panels.
30. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said panel sections comprise semicircular shaped panels.
31. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said panel sections comprise polygonal shaped panels.
32. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said panel sections comprise at least one pre-finished surface.
33. The modular building system according to claim 32, wherein said at least one pre-finished surface comprises a pre-finished exterior surface.
34. The modular building system according to claim 33, wherein said pre-finished exterior surface comprises siding.
35. The modular building system according to claim 33, wherein said pre-finished exterior surface comprises shingles.
36. The modular building system according to claim 33, wherein said pre-finished exterior surface comprises bricks.
37. The modular building system according to claim 32, wherein said at least one pre-finished surface comprises a pre-finished interior surface.
38. The modular building system according to claim 37, wherein said pre-finished interior surface comprises sub-flooring.
39. The modular building system according to claim 37, wherein said pre-finished interior surface comprises flooring.
40. The modular building system according to claim 37, wherein said pre-finished interior surface comprises drywall.
41. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said panel sections comprise means for routing electrical wiring.
42. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said panel sections comprise means for routing plumbing.
43. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said panel sections comprise means for routing communications cabling.
44. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said panel sections comprise means for increasing the structural stability of said structural skeleton.
45. The modular building system according to claim 44, wherein said means for increasing the structural stability of said structural skeleton comprises angle bracing within said panel sections.
46. The modular building system according to claim 44, wherein said means for increasing the structural stability of said structural skeleton comprises cross bracing within said panel sections.
47. The modular building system according to claim 44, wherein said means for increasing the structural stability of said structural skeleton comprises vertical bracing within said panel sections.
48. The modular building system according to claim 44, wherein said means for increasing the structural stability of said structural skeleton comprises horizontal bracing within said panel sections.
49. The modular building system according to claim 48, wherein said panel sections further comprise structural foam.
50. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein said panel sections comprise interior and exterior panels.
51. The modular building system according to claim 50, wherein said interior and exterior panels have a pre-finished surface.
52. The modular building system according to claim 50, wherein said panels have a flange to engage said tube section, said flange having a flange depth.
53. The modular building system according to claim 52, wherein said tube sections are square, and
each side of said square tube is twice the size of said flange depth.
54. A structure, comprising:
a selection of tube sections,
a selection of removable connectors, wherein said connectors connect said tube sections together to form a structural skeleton comprising geometrically shaped sides, and
a selection of geometrically shaped panel sections wherein said panel sections structurally engage said geometrically shaped sides of said structural skeleton.
55. The structure according to claim 54, wherein said tube sections have a closed cross section.
56. The structure according to claim 54, wherein said tube sections have an open cross section.
57. The structure according to claim 54, wherein said tube sections comprise at least one channel to receive a flange on said connectors.
58. The structure according to claim 54, wherein said tube sections comprise a channel to receive a flange on said panel sections.
59. The structure according to claim 54, wherein said tube sections comprise a plurality of holes for receiving a fastener.
60. The structure according to claim 54, wherein said removable connectors have a closed cross section.
61. The structure according to claim 54, wherein said removable connectors have an open cross section.
62. The structure according to claim 54, wherein said removable connectors comprise at least one flange for engaging a flange on said tube sections.
63. The structure according to claim 54, wherein said removable connectors comprise a plurality of holes for receiving a fastener.
64. The structure according to claim 54, wherein said panel sections comprise at least one flange for engaging said tube sections.
65. The structure according to claim 54, wherein said panel sections comprise a plurality of holes for receiving a fastener.
66. A method of constructing a structure, comprising the steps of:
connecting a selection of tube sections with a selection of removable connectors, wherein said tube sections and said connectors form a structural skeleton having geometrically shaped sides, and
connecting a selection of panel sections to said structural skeleton.
67. The method according to claim 66, further comprising the step of removing said removable connectors after connecting said panel sections.
68. The modular building system according to claim 24, wherein said panel sections comprise raised triangular perimeter sections having channels defined therebetween and recessed interiors, said channels and perimeter sections being adapted to engage said tube sections.
69. The modular building system according to claim 68, wherein said tube sections are fastened to said panels via fasteners protruding through said perimeter sections into said tube sections.
70. The modular building system according to claim 69, wherein said channels have a depth approximately half a depth of said tube sections, and wherein said system is configured such that an opposing panel section can be disposed in sandwiching relation with said panel section about said tube sections.