Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for managing an erase count block

US7103732B1 · kind B1 · utility

41Cited by
35References
43Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 28, 2002
Grant dateSep 5, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 18, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F2212/7211
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for managing erase counts in a non-volatile memory system. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for initializing an erase count block in a system memory of a non-volatile memory system, the non-volatile memory system which includes a non-volatile memory involves allocating a plurality of pages within the system memory that are divided into a plurality of entries. Each entry of the plurality of entries has an associated block in the non-volatile memory. The method also includes identifying usable blocks which are suitable for use in accepting user data, and storing values in each entry which is associated with a usable block. Storing the values in each entry which is associated with a usable block substantially identifies the usable block as being usable.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.