Partial block data programming and reading operations in a...

Details Partial block data programming and reading operations in a... Partial block data programming and reading operations in a...

2005-11-22

2005-11-22

Sparks, Donald (Department: 2187)

Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory

Storage accessing and control

Specific memory composition

C711S113000, C711S115000, C365S185110, C365S185330, C365S218000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06968421

ABSTRACT:
Data in less than all of the pages of a non-volatile memory block are updated by programming the new data in unused pages of either the same or another block. In order to prevent having to copy unchanged pages of data into the new block, or to program flags into superceded pages of data, the pages of new data are identified by the same logical address as the pages of data which they superceded and a time stamp is added to note when each page was written. When reading the data, the most recent pages of data are used and the older superceded pages of data are ignored. This technique is also applied to metablocks that include one block from each of several different units of a memory array, by directing all page updates to a single unused block in one of the units.

REFERENCES:
patent: 5043940 (1991-08-01), Harari
patent: 5172338 (1992-12-01), Mehrotra et al.
patent: 5341330 (1994-08-01), Wells et al.
patent: 5404485 (1995-04-01), Ban
patent: 5457658 (1995-10-01), Niijima et al.
patent: 5479638 (1995-12-01), Assar et al.
patent: 5481691 (1996-01-01), Day, III et al.
patent: 5485595 (1996-01-01), Assar et al.
patent: 5598370 (1997-01-01), Niijima
patent: 5648929 (1997-07-01), Miyamoto
patent: 5649200 (1997-07-01), Leblang et al.
patent: 5835935 (1998-11-01), Estakhri et al.
patent: 5838614 (1998-11-01), Estakhri et al.
patent: 5845313 (1998-12-01), Estakhri et al.
patent: 5860090 (1999-01-01), Clark
patent: 5890192 (1999-03-01), Lee et al.
patent: 5896393 (1999-04-01), Yard et al.
patent: 5907856 (1999-05-01), Estakhri et al.
patent: 5986933 (1999-11-01), Takeuchi et al.
patent: 5987563 (1999-11-01), Itoh et al.
patent: 5999947 (1999-12-01), Zollinger et al.
patent: 6034897 (2000-03-01), Estakhri et al.
patent: 6040997 (2000-03-01), Estakhri et al.
patent: 6115785 (2000-09-01), Estakhri et al.
patent: 6122195 (2000-09-01), Estakhri et al.
patent: 6125435 (2000-09-01), Estakhri et al.
patent: 6134151 (2000-10-01), Estakhri et al.
patent: 6151247 (2000-11-01), Estakhri et al.
patent: 6161163 (2000-12-01), Komatsu et al.
patent: 6219768 (2001-04-01), Hirabayashi et al.
patent: 6330634 (2001-12-01), Fuse et al.
patent: 6426893 (2002-07-01), Conley et al.
patent: 6449625 (2002-09-01), Wang
patent: 6567307 (2003-05-01), Estakhri
patent: 6763424 (2004-07-01), Conley
patent: 2742893 (1995-12-01), None
patent: WO 94/20906 (1994-09-01), None
patent: WO 94/22075 (1994-09-01), None
patent: PCT/US02/00366 (2001-01-01), None
patent: WO 02/49309 (2002-06-01), None
“FTL Updates, PCMCIA Document No. 0165”, Personal Computer Memory Card International Association, Version 002, Release 003, Mar. 4, 1996, pp. 1-26.
Mergi, Aryeh and Schneider, Robert, “M-Systems & SCM Flash Filing Software Flash Translation Layer —FTL”, PCMCIA, Jul., 1994, 15 pages.
PCT International Search Report, European Patent Office, corresponding PCT Application No. PCT/US02/00366, Jul. 4, 2003, 5 pages.
Petro Estakhri et al., “Moving Sectors Within a Block of Information in a Flash Memory Mass Storage Architecture”, U.S. Appl. No. 09/620,544, filed Jul. 21, 2000, 48 pages.
“International Preliminary Examination Report”, European Patent Office, Corresponding Application PCT/US02/00366, Jul. 4, 2003, 7 pages.
Eurpean Patent Office, “Communication Pursuant to Article 96(2) EPC” mailed in related European patent application No. 02703078.2-2210 on Dec. 2, 2004, 3 pages.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Partial block data programming and reading operations in a... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Partial block data programming and reading operations in a..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Partial block data programming and reading operations in a... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3465676