A packet classification apparatus and method using field level tries
includes a main processing part for generating and maintaining the field
level tries, which organize a multi-field packet by field in a
hierarchical structure for classifications; and classification engines,
each of which is provided with a first classification part for performing
queries and updates and processing a prefix lookup represented by an IP
source/destination address lookup, and a second classification part for
proceeding with classifications by corresponding field based on a result
of the first classification part in order to process a range lookup
belonging to the result. Accordingly, tries in the unit of a field are
developed so that packet classifications for high-speed networking with
excellent query performance are secured, and wherein approximately a
half-million classifier rules can be processed.