Methods, apparatus, and other mechanisms are disclosed for merging lookup
results, such as from one or more associative memory banks and/or memory
devices. An access list is identified. A first set of entries
corresponding to a first feature of the access control list entries and a
second set of entries corresponding to a second feature of the access
control list entries are identified. First and second associative memory
banks are programmed respectively based on the first and second sets of
entries. Lookup operations are then typically performed substantially
simultaneously on the first and second sets of associative memory entries
programmed in the associative memory banks to generate multiple lookup
results, with these results typically being identified directly, or via a
lookup operation in an adjunct memory or other storage mechanism. These
lookup results are then combined to generate a merged lookup result.