Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a memory storage system for storing information organized in sectors within a nonvolatile memory bank is disclosed. The memory bank is defined by sector storage locations spanning across one or more rows of a nonvolatile memory device, each the sector including a user data portion and an overhead portion. The sectors being organized into blocks with each sector identified by a host provided logical block address (LBA). Each block is identified by a modified LBA derived from the host-provided LBA and said virtual PBA, said host-provided LBA being received by the storage device from the host for identifying a sector of information to be accessed, the actual PBA developed by said storage device for identifying a free location within said memory bank wherein said accessed sector is to be stored.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method and apparatus for use in a memory system having a non-volatile memory and a controller for limiting the number of non-volatile memory arrays from a plurality of available arrays accessed at one time, wherein the method comprises implementing a pipelining sequence for transferring data to and from the non-volatile memory arrays and limiting the number of active arrays operating at one time, the arrangement being such that the controller waits for the at least one of the arrays to complete before initiating the transfer to and from a further array.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a memory storage system for storing information organized in sectors within a nonvolatile memory bank is disclosed. The memory bank is defined by sector storage locations spanning across one or more rows of a nonvolatile memory device, each the sector including a user data portion and an overhead portion. The sectors being organized into blocks with each sector identified by a host provided logical block address (LBA). Each block is identified by a modified LBA derived from the host-provided LBA and said virtual PBA, said host-provided LBA being received by the storage device from the host for identifying a sector of information to be accessed, the actual PBA developed by said storage device for identifying a free location within said memory bank wherein said accessed sector is to be stored.

Abstract: A memory system (10) having a solid state memory (6) comprising non-volatile individually addressable memory sectors (1) arranged in erasable blocks, and a controller (8) for writing to reading from the sectors, and for sorting the blocks into “erased” and “not erased” blocks. The controller performs logical to physical address translation, and includes a Write Pointer (WP) for pointing to the physical sector address to which data is to be written from a host processor. A Sector Allocation Table (SAT) of logical adrresses with respective physical addresses is stored in the memory, and the controller updates the SAT less frequently than sectors are written to with data from the host processor. The memory may be in a single chip, or in a plurality of chips. A novel system for arranging data in the individual sectors (1) is also claimed.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a memory system having a controller and a non-volatile memory storing firmware for start up and for normal operation of the system, the controller comprising, a volatile memory; and a processor; wherein the controller is arranged to operate during initialization or configuration of the system so that the start up firmware stored in the non-volatile memory is loaded into the volatile memory under hardware control by the controller and with the processor halted, the start up firmware in the volatile memory being subsequently executed by the processor.

Abstract: A fax broadcasting system for use in a packet switching network environment for transferring fascimile information in the form of multiple packets which are received from a sending communications device to a plurality of receiving communications devices includes a networking device for receiving, in packet form, an email message from the sending communication device. The email message includes fascimile (fax) infomation, which is also received in packet form (packets of fax information). The networking device is utilized for transmitting the fax information to the receiving communications devices. The networking device includes a processing device having a plurality of storage spaces, each of said plurality of storage spaces for storing one packet of the fax information (a packet storage space), the processing device for receiving the email message, in packet form, having attached thereto fax information in packet form.

Abstract: An networking system is disclosed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention to include a field availability monitoring system (FAMS) for receiving problems associated with one or more field replaceable units (FRUs), qualifying the problem and transmitting the problem for tracking thereof so as to improve the quality of components used in the FRUs.

Abstract: A lab network access server is disclosed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The lab network access server is coupled to a customer network server through a packet switching network. The customer modem device includes a customer modem device and is coupled to an end-user modem device employed by an end-user. In a diagnostic scenario, the end-user initiates a call through the customer network access server modem device, which is setup for pass through operations. The customer network access server, upon receiving the call information, routes the call information to the lab network access server for termination thereof. The lab network access server operates to diagnose problems associated with the customer modem device and includes a lab modem device.

Abstract: A communication system for transmission of facsimile (fax) information using an email message from a sending fax device used by a sending fax user to a receiving fax device used by a receiving fix user through at least one mailer device including a sending gateway device coupled to the sending fax device for causing transfer of a fax message received from the fax device. The sending gateway device further attaches the transferred fax message to an email message. At least one of the mailer device is coupled to a receiving gateway device and is further coupled to the sending gateway device for receiving the email message and transferring the same to the receiving gateway device. The receiving gateway device is coupled to the receiving fax device for detaching the fax information from the transferred email message and coupling the detached fax information, through a receiving communication link, to the receiving fax device for use by the receiving fax user.

Abstract: In accordance with a method and apparatus of the present invention, a voice communication system is disclosed for use in a packet switching network environment including a host server for communicating voice information, initiated by a telephone user, to an electronic mail (email) recipient. A public switching telephone network (PSTN) includes at least one telephone device for communicating the voice information therethrough. The host server is responsive to email messages, transmitted in packet form, through the packet switching network The voice communication system includes a network device responsive to a voice message generated by the telephone user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of the present invention includes a network access server (NAS) for use in a communications system utilized by users of telephone, fax, or modem calls, the NAS having more than one processor with a plurality of processors forming a module, each processor for performing various functions by executing code stored in a memory device accessible by the processor wherein either upgrading of the stored code or recovery of one or more of the processors is required.

Abstract: An email communication system employed in a packet switching network environment for transmission of an email message including at least one fax message for use by fax recipient(s), through the packet switching network environment, includes a network device for communication with one or more mail servers. The mail servers are responsive to an email message having at least one tax message received from an email user. The network device receives the email message, through a forward connection, from one of the mail servers and converts the received email message into the fax message for transmission thereof to at least one fax recipient.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is disclosed to include a nonvolatile memory system for controlling erase operations performed on a nonvolatile memory array comprised of rows and columns, the nonvolatile memory array stores digital information organized into blocks with each block having one or more sectors of information and each sector having a user data field and an extension field and each sector stored within a row of the memory array. A controller circuit is coupled to a host circuit and is operative to perform erase operations on the nonvolatile memory array, the controller circuit erases an identified sector of information having a particular user data field and a particular extension field wherein the particular user field and the particular extension field are caused to be erased separately.

Abstract: A computer system has a memory device. The memory device includes a user interface, a controller, a store, and an address mapping device for mapping a first address from the user interface to a second address for accessing the store, where the controller stores information in successive regions of the store each time the information is updated.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention includes a nonvolatile memory system comprising nonvolatile memory for storing sector information, the nonvolatile memory being organized into blocks with each block including a plurality of sectors, each sector identified by a logical block address and for storing sector information. A controller is coupled to the nonvolatile memory for writing sector information to the latter and for updating the sector information, wherein upon updating sector information, the controller writes to the next free or available sector(s) of a block such that upon multiple re-writes or updating of sector information, a plurality of blocks are substantially filled with sector information and upon such time, the controller rearranges the updated sector information in sequential order based on their respective logical block addresses thereby increasing system performance and improving manufacturing costs of the controller.

Abstract: A network device, for establishing communication between a first communication unit and a second communication unit through a packet switching network, includes a DSP array responsive to signals having coupled thereon voice, fax or data information for digitizing the information and converting the same to packets to form digitized packets of information.

Abstract: A fax system employed in a packet switching network environment for use by fax users for transmission of fax information includes a network device coupled, through a network interface, to one or more communications devices for transmitting a processed fax message through the network interface to one or more of the communications devices, each of the communications devices being capable of receiving fax information and having a predetermined minimum scan line time therefor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in a digital system having a plurality of modem devices from receiving de-multiplexed digital channels of information through a transmission link and providing data for use by computer equipment for detecting the presence of defective modem devices, the plurality of modem devices being organized into groups having a predetermined number of modem devices, testing each of the modems in each group against the remainder of the modems in that group, determining the number of tests that each of the modems within the group have passed successfully, selecting among the modems within each group, a ‘leader’ modem having the highest number of pass rate and thereafter testing the remainder of the modems in that group against the chosen ‘leader’ modem thereby reliably isolating defective modems from use during normal operation of the digital system.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a memory storage system for storing information organized in sectors within a nonvolatile memory bank is disclosed. The memory bank is defined by sector storage locations spanning across one or more rows of a nonvolatile memory device, each the sector including a user data portion and an overhead portion. The sectors being organized into blocks with each sector identified by a host provided logical block address (LBA). Each block is identified by a modified LBA derived from the host-provided LBA and said virtual PBA, said host-provided LBA being received by the storage device from the host for identifying a sector of information to be accessed, the actual PBA developed by said storage device for identifying a free location within said memory bank wherein said accessed sector is to be stored.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for identifying a block being stored within flash memory devices using a cluster address for each block, the block being selectively erasable and having one or more sectors, the cluster address being stored in one of the sectors of the block. In an alternative embodiment, the cluster address is stored in at least two different sectors within the same block for ensuring that the information last written to the block is valid. Further disclosed is a novel way to use a defect flag for each block stored within the flash memory device for efficiently identifying non-defective blocks upon system power-up.