17. A method of accessing a rule memory bank for use with a pattern matching search engine, said method comprising: providing a first rule memory bank operative to store either default rules or transition rules; providing a second rule memory bank operative to store either default rules or transition rules; enabling independent access between said pattern matching search engine and the contents of said first rule memory bank and said second rule memory bank; and swapping which rule bank is assigned to store default rules and which rule bank is assigned to store transition rules in accordance with different pattern contexts.
17. A method of accessing a rule memory bank for use with a pattern matching search engine, said method comprising: providing a first rule memory bank operative to store either default rules or transition rules; providing a second rule memory bank operative to store either default rules or transition rules; enabling independent access between said pattern matching search engine and the contents of said first rule memory bank and said second rule memory bank; and swapping which rule bank is assigned to store default rules and which rule bank is assigned to store transition rules in accordance with different pattern contexts. 20. The method according to claim 17 , wherein swapping which rule bank is assigned to store default rules and which rule bank is assigned to store transition rules in accordance with the rules assignment contained in a pattern context header (PCH) associated per pattern context.