Incoming data packets are often processed according to their origination or destination port. In order to efficiently determine applicable rules based on port values, ranges are stored in association with corresponding rules in a ternary memory. In order to reduce the amount of required memory to store these ranges, extra unused bits of the ACL that includes the rule can be used. Further, to maximize the storage capability of these limited extra bits, most common ranges can be stored in one or more bit partitions depending on whether they encompass other most common ranges to be stored in the extra bits. Through partitioning and intelligent bit assignment, many ranges can be stored in the limited extra bits, and can each remain individually addressable.