Abstract: Methods and arrangements are provided that significantly reduce or otherwise minimize the amount of NVRAM required within a given computing device. For example, a novel data structure and management scheme are provided in a manner that allows an NVRAM sector-based memory to appear as providing significantly more storage space than it physically has. This is accomplished by mapping a higher number of virtual sectors to a fewer number of physical sectors. Data written to a plurality of virtual sectors is compressed and written to physical sector(s). The information needed to associate the virtual and physical sectors can be maintained in a virtual sector table within less expensive RAM. If power is lost and the virtual sector table is no longer available in the RAM, then on power-up the virtual sector table is recreated based in information that is imbedded within the stored data structure in physical sectors of the NVRAM.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements are provided that significantly reduce or otherwise minimize the amount of NVRAM required within a given computing device. For example, a novel data structure and management scheme are provided in a manner that allows an NVRAM sector-based memory to appear as providing significantly more storage space than it physically has. This is accomplished by mapping a higher number of virtual sectors to a fewer number of physical sectors. Data written to a plurality of virtual sectors is compressed and written to physical sector(s). The information needed to associate the virtual and physical sectors can be maintained in a virtual sector table within less expensive RAM. If power is lost and the virtual sector table is no longer available in the RAM, then on power-up the virtual sector table is recreated based in information that is imbedded within the stored data structure in physical sectors of the NVRAM.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements are provided that significantly reduce or otherwise minimize the amount of NVRAM required within a given computing device. For example, a novel data structure and management scheme are provided in a manner that allows an NVRAM sector-based memory to appear as providing significantly more storage space than it physically has. This is accomplished by mapping a higher number of virtual sectors to a fewer number of physical sectors. Data written to a plurality of virtual sectors is compressed and written to physical sector(s). The information needed to associate the virtual and physical sectors can be maintained in a virtual sector table within less expensive RAM. If power is lost and the virtual sector table is no longer available in the RAM, then on power-up the virtual sector table is recreated based in information that is imbedded within the stored data structure in physical sectors of the NVRAM.