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Please predict whether this patent is acceptable.PATENT ABSTRACT: Embodiments are described for automata models for use in deep packet inspection. Various embodiments are described for a new automata model, Overlay DFA (ODFA), which captures state replication in DFAs. Additional embodiments include combining the ODFA model with a D2FA model to provide an Overlay Delayed Input DFA (OD2FA). As the DFA model captures transition sharing, the OD2FA model captures both state replication and transition sharing. Algorithms are disclosed for efficiently constructing the OD2FA model and for implementing the OD2FA model in Ternary Content Addressable Memory (TCAM).