Abstract: Apparatus and method of managing a nonvolatile memory are disclosed where the nonvolatile-memory-managing apparatus includes a nonvolatile memory that has a first block and a second block having one or more physical pages, and an operation unit that determines the type of merge operation to perform for the first block and second block according to whether logical page offsets recorded in consecutive physical pages of the first block increases in steps and in repeating order.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling operation processing in a nonvolatile memory includes an emergency request-managing unit to set values of a pre-empt flag and a status-backup flag when an operation based on an urgent request is transmitted, a status-checking unit to check the set values of the pre-empt flag and the status-backup flag, and an operation-processing unit to process the operation based on the urgent request and an operation based on a normal request according to the checked values.

Abstract: An apparatus, a method for use in the apparatus, for managing secure data stored in an OTP block. The apparatus includes a secure data recorder that records secure data and its complement, and records new secure data and its complement when a power outage occurs during recording, a secure data check unit that determines the validity of the secure data and its complement, and an error determiner that determines whether the recorded secure data is a partial recording of the new secure data if the secure data is invalid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reorganizing mapping information in a flash memory are provided. The apparatus includes a sector-managing module that secures a mapping sector where mapping information is recorded in a physical unit, and determines whether user data is recorded up to a sector located in a predetermined position, and a mapping-information-recording module that records the mapping information in the mapping sector according to a result of the determination. Here, the mapping information includes a relation of a physical sector storing the user data and a logical sector corresponding to the physical sector.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing atomicity with respect to a request of a write operation for successive sectors in a flash memory is provided. The apparatus includes a data write module writing data in a main sector of a page and allocating status bits indicating a status of the data write to a spare sector of the page, a write progress managing module overwriting a commit mark in the spare sector allocated with the status bits according to a progress status of the data write, and a validity determining module determining validity of the sectors on the basis of the overwritten commit mark and providing information of the successive sectors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for managing a bad run-time block in a multi-level cell flash memory. The apparatus includes a buffer-allotting module which allots a buffer in which data programmed in a least significant bit (LSB) of a cell is temporarily stored, a data-copying module which copies the data programmed in the LSB of the cell to the allotted buffer, and a bad-block-managing module which programs the copied data to a free block if a program error occurs in a page of the cell.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory including a memory cell that stores data in a plurality of pages included in a block according to a voltage applied to a memory cell is provided. The nonvolatile memory includes a block that includes a first page including first data that stores data recorded by a user, and a second page including second data area that stores data recorded by a user, wherein the second page records count-information on states represented by a bit pair in the same position of the first data area and the second data area.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for managing bad blocks generated while a flash memory is being used. A method for managing a bad block in a flash memory includes (a) allocating a used area having a plurality of used blocks and a spare area having a plurality of spare blocks in the flash memory, and providing a block map page group including a plurality of block map pages in which mapping information to map a bad block generated in either of the used area or the spare block to a spare block, (b) having mapping information of the block map page reside among the block map page groups in the memory, and (c) mapping the bad block generated during a flash operation to an unused spare block found through the mapping information, updating the mapping information, and recording the updated mapping information on the block map page.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for controlling a flash memory, more particularly, an apparatus and method for controlling flash memory that updates control information of a flash memory stored in a predetermined volatile memory when the type of flash memory is changed and controls the changed flash memory using the updated control information. The apparatus includes a flash memory storing its own control information, a first memory storing a programming code for controlling the flash memory, a control unit generating a control code for controlling the flash memory by assigning the control information to the programming code, and a transceiver transmitting the control code.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for operating a flash memory according to a priority order, in which a fast response is insured. The apparatus includes a time calculation unit which calculates an operation execution time required to perform a first operation, a remaining time calculation unit which calculates a remaining time until completion of the first operation based on the calculated operation execution time if a second operation having a higher priority than that of the first operation is requested during performing of the first operation, and an operation processing unit which compares the calculated remaining time with an operation suspension time requested to suspend the first operation and determines whether to suspend the first operation in accordance with a result of the comparison.

Abstract: Provided are a nonvolatile memory and an apparatus and method for deciding data validity for the same, in which validity of data stored in the nonvolatile memory can be decided. The nonvolatile memory includes a memory cell storing data bits in a plurality of pages included in a predetermined block through a plurality of states realized by at least two bits. The block includes a first page in which data bits for determining validity of data bits written by a user are stored, and a second page in which the data bits written by the user are stored.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for managing mapping information of a nonvolatile memory, in which a time period required for a request for access to a logic sector of the nonvolatile memory is minimized. The apparatus includes an extractor which extracts a logical sector mapped with each physical sector in physical units mapped with a predetermined logical unit, a mapping information generator which generates mapping information of logical sectors belonging to the logical unit including the extracted logical sector, and a mapping information memory which stores the generated mapping information.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device and method for storing status information using multiple strings are provided. The nonvolatile memory device and method allow the status information to be stored using multiple strings. The nonvolatile memory includes a cell capable of storing at least one bit of data, a plurality of strings in each of which at least two cells are connected in series, and a plurality of pages each of which includes a plurality of cells, wherein the strings comprise a main string group comprised of strings storing data and a spare string group including at least two spare strings that store status information on the data stored in the main string group.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus and method for a flash memory, which make it easy to determine whether data stored in the flash memory is valid, are provided. The data processing apparatus includes a user request unit which issues a request for performing a data operation on a flash memory using a predetermined logical address, a conversion unit which converts the logical address into a physical address, and a control unit which performs the data operation on the physical address and writes inverted data obtained by inverting error correction code (ECC) corresponding to data used in the data operation to a region indicating whether the ECC is erroneous.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for processing data of flash memory. The apparatus includes a user requesting unit to request a data operation using a predetermined logical address, a transformation unit to transform the logical address into a physical address, and a control unit to record count data counting the number of predetermined bits of data, in an index region to indicate whether the data is valid when conducting the data operation.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for managing bad blocks generated while a flash memory is being used. A method for managing a bad block in a flash memory includes (a) allocating a used area having a plurality of used blocks and a spare area having a plurality of spare blocks in the flash memory, and providing a block map page group including a plurality of block map pages in which mapping information to map a bad block generated in either of the used area or the spare block to a spare block, (b) having mapping information of the block map page reside among the block map page groups in the memory, and (c) mapping the bad block generated during a flash operation to an unused spare block found through the mapping information, updating the mapping information, and recording the updated mapping information on the block map page.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus and method are provided for a flash memory, wherein the data processing apparatus and method can easily determine whether data stored in the flash memory is valid. The data processing apparatus for a flash memory includes a user request unit which issues a request for performing a data operation on a predetermined logical address, a conversion unit which converts the predetermined logical address into a physical address, and a control unit which performs the data operation on the physical address and records inverted data of data written to the predetermined logical address in an index area to indicate whether the data written to the predetermined logical address is valid.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for managing bad blocks generated while a flash memory is being used. A method for managing a bad block in a flash memory includes (a) allocating a used area having a plurality of used blocks and a spare area having a plurality of spare blocks in the flash memory, and providing a block map page group including a plurality of block map pages in which mapping information to map a bad block generated in either of the used area or the spare block to a spare block, (b) having mapping information of the block map page reside among the block map page groups in the memory, and (c) mapping the bad block generated during a flash operation to an unused spare block found through the mapping information, updating the mapping information, and recording the updated mapping information on the block map page.

Abstract: A method for managing a flash memory, a method for leveling the wear of blocks in a flash memory, and a method for managing a file system for a flash memory are provided. The method for managing a flash memory includes: if changing of data of a data block recorded in a data area is requested, recording the data block having changed data in an alternative area and recording mapping information of the data block recorded in the alternative area in a mapping area; and if changing of data of the data block recorded in the alternative area is requested, recording a data block having changed data in the data area and deleting the mapping information recorded in the alternative area from the mapping area.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for managing bad blocks generated while a flash memory is being used. A method for managing a bad block in a flash memory includes (a) allocating a used area having a plurality of used blocks and a spare area having a plurality of spare blocks in the flash memory, and providing a block map page group including a plurality of block map pages in which mapping information to map a bad block generated in either of the used area or the spare block to a spare block, (b) having mapping information of the block map page reside among the block map page groups in the memory, and (c) mapping the bad block generated during a flash operation to an unused spare block found through the mapping information, updating the mapping information, and recording the updated mapping information on the block map page.