Data structures for one-dimensional packet classification using most-specific-rule matching

We review the data structures that have been proposed for one-dimensional packet classification. Our review is limited to data structures for the case when ties among the rules that match an incoming packet are broken by selecting the matching rule that is most specific. For the case when the rule filters are destination-address prefixes or are nonintersecting ranges, this tie breaker corresponds to longest-prefix or shortest-range matching, respectively. When the rule filters are arbitrary ranges, this tie breaker resolves the tie only when the rule set is conflict free. Data structures for both static and dynamic rule tables are discussed.