Flash File Systems Patents (Class 707/824)
  • Patent number: 8065348
    Abstract: A preload library partitions certain files into segments and transforms the data of the files on a segment by segment basis, each independently of the other. The transformed segments are then stored as part of a transformed file, with each segment corresponding to a bag containing a chunk (of transformed data) and a gap which permits the chunks to grow when data of the segment is modified during a write operation. The bags are followed by a chunk map which contains metadata defining the compressed version of each segment. The preload library intercepts system calls from applications to the OC specifying access to specific segments of a transformed file. The preload library identifies the chunks corresponding to the specified segments, retrieves and reverses the transform on those chunks and passes the data to the application requesting it. For a system call to write data to certain segments, the data is modified and re-transformed by the library before being written back to disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Adam Louis Buchsbaum, Kiem-Phong Vo
  • Patent number: 8055873
    Abstract: A data writing method for a flash memory is provided. The data writing method includes following steps. First, a block is selected as a substitute block from a spare area of the flash memory, wherein the substitute block is used for substituting a data block in a data area for writing a new data. Next, the new data is directly written into the substitute block starting from a start page, wherein there is valid data in the data block before the address for writing the new data. Thereby, meaningless data moving can be reduced, system performance can be improved, and overlong waiting time for writing the new data can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Phison Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chien-Hua Chu, Chih-Kang Yeh, Jian-Yo Su, Jui-Hsien Chang
  • Patent number: 8051053
    Abstract: A system and method is introduced for implementing a storage firewall for protecting files when a storage device connects to a digital appliance. A storage device may connect to a number of appliances and is therefore at risk of getting infected with viruses and other malware risking subsequent transfer of these infections to other appliances. The storage device is further at risk of leaking sensitive information or loosing critical information. The storage firewall protects data on a storage device that connects to a digital appliance in various manners using a standard, unencrypted partition and a standard file system. Protected and unprotected files may reside homogeneously on the file system of the storage device. Using the storage firewall, files on digital appliance may be protected from infected files residing on storage device connected to digital appliance. No application is required to be activated on digital appliance when storage device connects to digital appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Inventor: Noam Camiel
  • Publication number: 20110264714
    Abstract: A method and apparatus that creates situations in which insufficient memory is available to store a file created by a computer game device on an SD memory card, or exactly enough memory is available to store a file or sufficient memory is available to store a file. Depending upon the memory condition that is created, software that is being tested behaves in a particular manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: Nintendo of America Inc.
    Inventors: Sayaka Sogabe FOURCADE, Michael Carl Leslie, Randy Lee Shoemake, Brian Robert Silvola, Alexander Abram Youells
  • Patent number: 8046523
    Abstract: Provided are a flash memory management apparatus and method which divide blocks of a memory into data blocks and i-node blocks and respectively specify storage paths of data, which is stored in the data blocks, in the i-node blocks in order to easily access pieces of the data by searching the i-node blocks. The flash memory management apparatus includes a map search module searching for a map block located at a preset position of a memory among blocks that form the memory and extracting storage paths of one or more i-node blocks; a path search module searching for storage paths of data specified in the i-node blocks based on the extraction result; and a data management module accessing the data through a storage path of the data and performs a transaction on the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joo-young Hwang, Kyu-ho Park, Seung-ho Lim
  • Patent number: 8032571
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically classifying files on a mobile communication terminal are provided. The inventive method and apparatus enable the files to be automatically classified and copied into a desired storage folder on the mobile communication terminal. An exemplary method for automatically classifying files on a mobile communication terminal includes receiving a command to copy a selected file, determining an attribute of the selected file, determining a storage folder in which to store the file according to the attribute of the file and copying and storing the file in the determined storage folder. The method and apparatus enable files that a user desires to copy from an external device to the user's mobile communication terminal to be automatically classified according to their attributes and be stored in storage folders corresponding to the attributes, thus minimizing the inconvenience of individually designating a storage folder for each file whenever the files are copied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Min-Kyung Lee
  • Patent number: 8019800
    Abstract: An information recording device, which includes a nonvolatile memory whose areas are managed using an FAT file system and enhances the reliability of directory entries using a cyclic shift checksum, recalculates the cyclic shift checksum efficiently and performs seeking at a higher speed. A nonvolatile memory (25) of an information recording device 2 is managed using an FAT file system. In the memory, a plurality of directory entries are allocated to a single file. The device enhances the reliability of the directory entries using a cyclic shift checksum, and manages information indicating the position and the size of a storage area of file data using an extent information entry (203). The device further uses an update information entry (204) and a dummy entry (205).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takuji Maeda, Shinji Inoue
  • Publication number: 20110173375
    Abstract: A method for enhancing file system performance includes: in a situation where operations of visiting a file system of a memory device according to a plurality of file names are performed, regarding each of the file names, extracting a characteristic value and full file name location information from file information that is first read, and temporarily storing the characteristic value and the full file name location information; and when visiting the file system according to a target file name, checking whether any of temporarily stored characteristic values matches the target file name, and determining accordingly whether to perform a file system operation corresponding to the target file name. An associated memory device and the controller thereof are further provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventor: XIANGRONG LI
  • Patent number: 7979430
    Abstract: A method and apparatus includes a portable electronic memory storage device and a plurality of exhibitor computers, each having at least one specifically identified electronic uploadable file and a port adapted to selectively interface with the portable device. When a portable device engages a port, electronic content corresponding to the port is uploaded from the computer to the portable device. In another embodiment, data from the portable device, such as demographic data, is also downloaded to the exhibitor computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Viridistor, LLC
    Inventor: Terence J. Mullin
  • Publication number: 20110161386
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor memory device and a memory controller. The semiconductor memory device is capable of holding data. The memory controller controls write operation to write data received from a host unit into the semiconductor memory device. The memory controller includes a logical address space including a plurality of address areas each having a write limiting condition according to an address and a type of data to be written into the semiconductor memory device, permitting an adding a file and inhibiting a written file from being overwritten in a specific file format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventor: Takafumi ITO
  • Patent number: 7970804
    Abstract: A journaling file allocation table (FAT) file system includes an FAT file system module, a storage device and a driver. The FAT file system module includes a journaling module and receives a file operation instruction sent by an operating system. The storage device has an FAT file system and an FAT journaling cache. The driver is coupled to the FAT file system module, the journaling module and the storage device in order to access the storage device. When the FAT file system stored in the storage device is a journaling FAT file system, the FAT file system module enables the journaling module to receive and execute the file operation instruction sent by the operating system and to accordingly produce a corresponding file operation instruction to the driver for performing a journaling file operation on the storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Sunplus MMobile Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Chuan Tang, Hung-Lin Chou
  • Patent number: 7970806
    Abstract: Management of files in a memory, such as a flash memory, includes storing in the memory a first node including a first type of metadata of the file, a second node including data of the file and a third node including a second type of metadata of the file including file status and memory location information for the first and second nodes. The third node may include a node including memory location information for the second node and a node including an index table that cross-references a memory location for the memory location information for the second node to a memory location of the first node. Methods and devices may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong-woo Park, Gwang-ok Go, Jun-young Cho
  • Patent number: 7970805
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for managing the data in the removable storage device. The method includes: applying or organizing or establishing or re-building the file managing system of the storage medium of said removable storage device according to the uses of said memory chips; and utilizing said file managing system to perform the corresponding processing in said memory chips according to the operation instructions of the host system, which is connected with said file managing system. By applying the method for managing the data in the removable storage device, which the invention provides, the capacity of the removable storage device can be extended, and the storage medium can be updated, thus the data security, the functions and the convenience of the system are increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Netac Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Guoshun Deng
  • Patent number: 7966355
    Abstract: An enhanced flash memory card, including a flash memory for storing a file system a wireless modem for downloading data from a remote computer to the flash memory, and a driver that controls the modem by associating designated flash card file system commands with modem actions to be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Modu Ltd.
    Inventors: Itay Sherman, Yaron Segalov
  • Patent number: 7966288
    Abstract: The present invention enables a user to increase storage capacity for a host by using multiple storage devices. File systems are virtualized regardless of any difference in file system format. The invention may be embodied as a device for integrating file systems or as a method of integrating file systems. The device has one or more storage device interfaces for storage devices, a host interface, and a hub connected to the interfaces. The hub creates a virtual file system that aggregates the storage device file systems of storage devices that are connected to the storage device interfaces. The method of integrating file systems includes reading file systems, interpreting them, creating a logical structure containing data of the file systems, and generating in a memory sectors that map the logical structure into a virtual file system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: SanDisk IL Ltd.
    Inventors: Judah Gamliel Hahn, Donald Ray Bryant-Rich, Rotem Gazit, Ziv Baduach
  • Publication number: 20110145306
    Abstract: A method for trimming data on non-volatile flash media is generally presented. In this regard, in one embodiment, a method is introduced comprising allocating a temporary file that occupies free space on a flash memory, determining specific blocks of the flash memory that the temporary file occupies, generating TRIM commands for the specific blocks, and deleting the temporary file. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: James A. Boyd, Knut S. Grimsrud
  • Publication number: 20110138108
    Abstract: A method of active Flash management is provided. The method is applied to a controller of a memory device, where the controller is utilized for accessing a Flash memory in the memory device, and the Flash memory includes a plurality of blocks. The method includes: extracting high level information of a file system of the Flash memory from contents stored in the Flash memory; and according to the high level information, managing operations that the controller performs on the Flash memory, in order to optimize at least one portion of the operations. An associated memory device and the controller thereof are further provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventor: XIANGRONG LI
  • Patent number: 7953774
    Abstract: A method and a processing device are provided for sequentially aggregating data to a write log included in a volume of a random-access medium. When data of a received write request is determined to be suitable for sequentially aggregating to a write log, the data may be written to the write log and a remapping tree, for mapping originally intended destinations on the random-access medium to one or more corresponding entries in the write log, may be maintained and updated. At time periods, a checkpoint may be written to the write log. The checkpoint may include information describing entries of the write log. One or more of the checkpoints may be used to recover the write log, at least partially, after a dirty shutdown. Entries of the write log may be drained to respective originally intended destinations upon an occurrence of one of a number of conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Shi Cong, Scott Brender, Karan Mehra, Darren G. Moss, William R. Tipton, Surendra Verma
  • Patent number: 7945587
    Abstract: Described is a technology by which storage space in the form of allocation units (e.g., clusters of a storage volume) are intentionally allocated so as to likely be non-contiguous for a file's data. For example, random selection of each of the allocation units will likely provide non-contiguous allocation units; on solid state storage media, such a random distribution of a file's data does not significantly affect access times. In one aspect, a file system driver randomly allocates the allocation units, and records the allocation units in association with the file, e.g., in a master file table or similar database. Non-contiguous (e.g., random) allocation may be on demand as storage space is needed, and/or may be performed in anticipation of needing storage space for satisfying a later request. Once the storage space is no longer mapped to a file, reconstructing that file's data in forensic analysis is more difficult.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Edward W. Hardy
  • Publication number: 20110099324
    Abstract: A flash memory storage system including a flash memory chip, a connector, and a flash memory controller is provided. The flash memory controller configures a plurality of logical addresses and maps the logical addresses to a part of the physical addresses in the flash memory chip, and a host system uses a file system to access the logical addresses. Besides, the flash memory controller identifies a deleted logical address among the logical addresses and marks data in the physical address mapped to the deleted logical address as invalid data. Thereby, the flash memory storage system can identify data deleted by the host system in the physical addresses, so that the time for sorting data can be effectively reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: PHISON ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventor: Chih-Kang Yeh
  • Patent number: 7930326
    Abstract: A file system determines the relative vacancy of a collection of storage blocks, i.e., an “allocation area”. This is accomplished by recording an array of numbers, each of which describes the vacancy of a collection of storage blocks. The file system examines these numbers when attempting to record file blocks in relatively contiguous areas on a storage medium, such as a disk. When a request to write to disk occurs, the system determines the average vacancy of all of the allocation areas and queries the allocation areas for individual vacancy rates. The system preferably writes file blocks to the allocation areas that are above a threshold related to the average storage block vacancy of the file system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Network Appliance, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas P. Doucette, Blake Lewis, John K. Edwards
  • Patent number: 7925683
    Abstract: The systems and methods partition digital data units in a content aware fashion without relying on any ancestry information, which enables one to find duplicate chunks in unrelated units of digital data even across millions of documents spread across thousands of computer systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Copiun, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjay Jain, Puneesh Chaudhry
  • Publication number: 20110060775
    Abstract: A method and system for storing files in a computer readable format using a file allocation table wherein a storage device is formatted with a single file allocation table when accessed by a system which includes means for reconstituting the file allocation table in the event of a failure. Also provided is a method for determining how many file allocation tables to write to a storage device based on a number of characteristics of the storage device such as type, data structure previously provided on the device etc, and/or on user input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: NOKIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Richard Fitzgerald
  • Publication number: 20110055297
    Abstract: A method for increasing the speed of processing when writing multiple files in parallel and writing file data in a stable manner in the case where the regions of a non-volatile memory in an information recording module are managed according to a filesystem is provided. An access module (1) includes a unit (104) that communicates, to an information recording module (2), information regarding the storage location of a directory entry, and also includes a unit (105) that pads file data when writing fractional data such as the end of a file and writes that data into the information recording module (2). Upon determining that the directory entry is to be written based on the communicated information, the information recording module (2) stores the directory entry in a dedicated physical block. Furthermore, the access module (1) pads the data of multiple files as necessary and records those files in continuous addresses in units that are a multiple of a predetermined size of a unit of recording processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Takuji Maeda, Masayuki Toyama, Manabu Inoue, Toshiyuki Honda
  • Patent number: 7873683
    Abstract: An electronic data system comprises memory storage having stored data, file system software, and a transaction file. The transaction file is maintained by the file system software, and includes a plurality of transaction records corresponding to transactions that have been or are to be executed on one or more files and/or the or more directories of the file system. The file system software operates to organize and maintain the stored data in the files and directories and also to coalesce multiple transaction records meeting one or more criteria into fewer coalesced transaction records. The physical memory space required by the transaction file is reduced by the transaction record coalescing. The coalesced transaction records may be constructed so that they represent a logical result of applying each transaction record of a transaction record set in chronological order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: QNX Software Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Dan Dodge
  • Patent number: 7865479
    Abstract: Systems and methods for CRAMFS file system differencing and updating are provided that include portion-level differencing and block-level updating of blocks of an original image. The differencing and updating split CRAMFS images into portions using CRAMFS file system structure information and block information and perform dependency analysis using hint/list files from the CRAMFS split module. A delta file is generated for each portion (portion-level differencing) of the new CRAMFS image; the delta file includes information of differences between the portion of the new CRAMFS image and the portion of the original CRAMFS image to which the new CRAMFS image portion corresponds. The delta files are transferred to a device where the device target CRAMFS image is updated block-by-block using information of the delta files. The update reconstructs all portions of the new CRAMFS image in a block in host device RAM and writes the reconstructed block into host device ROM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Innopath Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Jinsheng Gu, Premjith Manapetty
  • Patent number: 7853772
    Abstract: A method for re-allocating memory partition space is provided. The method comprises determining when a first memory partition is full or has reached a threshold value, determining that a second memory partition has unused storage space that can be allocated to the first memory partition, and assigning the unused storage space from the second memory partition to the first memory partition. A memory controller embedded within the mass storage device and having an interface to an external host assigns the unused storage space from the second memory partition to the first memory partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Chang, Michael Holtzman, Farshid Sabet-Sharghi, Paul McAvoy, Bahman Qawami
  • Patent number: 7844788
    Abstract: A computer comprising a processor, a volatile main store, a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) mirror store, and optionally a cache for the non-volatile mirror store. While programs of the computer are operational, the contents of the volatile main store are mirrored in the non-volatile mirror store such that when a startup signal is received, the contents of the volatile main store are quickly restored from the contents of the non-volatile mirror store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen A. Evanchik, Louis M. Weitzman
  • Patent number: 7840617
    Abstract: A memory system includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory and a controller which controls the semiconductor memory, the memory system being inserted into the host device. The host device further includes a file management system which allocates a cluster defined in a FAT file system to write data and manages the data allocated to the cluster by using management data including a file allocation table defined in the FAT file system and a directory entry. The directory entry includes a root directory entry serving as entry information of a root directory of an uppermost layer and a sub-directory entry serving as entry information of a sub-directory belonging to the root directory. The file system allocates the plurality of clusters in a predetermined range in which addresses are serial to the management data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Takafumi Ito
  • Patent number: 7836107
    Abstract: A disk-seek optimized file system is provided that may be advantageously deployed in a computer system that supports simultaneous Digital Video Recorder (DVR) functionality and user interaction, such as recording several television (TV) shows while simultaneously supporting a video game played by a user. A computing device hard drive is logically divided into “chunks,”—a first chunk comprising volume metadata, and subsequent chunks comprising equal size “blocks.” A first block of a subsequent chunk comprises block bitmaps and a stream identifier table. The block bitmaps indicate subsequent blocks in the chunk that contain stream data for particular streams, which are identified in corresponding entries in the stream identifier table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Shaheen Ashok Gandhi, Timothy Seeds Milligan, Logananth Seetharaman
  • Publication number: 20100280995
    Abstract: A computer device (2010) with a file system having clusters and meta data. The computer device (2010) includes a processor (1030) and a storage (1025) coupled to the processor and having physical representations of instructions so that the processor is operable to reserve (230) at least one of the clusters and to create a log record when meta data for the file system is to be updated by a write (240) of such meta data beforehand to such a reserved cluster, and then set (250) at least one state entry to substantially represent readiness to write the meta data to the file system. Various file systems, processes, circuits, devices and electronic systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Keshava Munegowda, Madan Srinivas, Rohit Joshi, Veeramanikandan Raju
  • Patent number: 7822866
    Abstract: A home entertainment network includes at least one client device connected to a server over a network, and the client has an interface to removable media. Each piece of removable media has a unique ID, which can be pre-recorded beforehand or assigned by a server. A user selects content from a library in the server(s) and associates it with the ID of a piece of media through the server or client, with the server storing the media ID as well as information to identify the associated content. Unlike a conventional removable media system, however, no content data is on the media. To play back the content, a user simply engages the media with a client device, which retrieves the media ID, sends it to the server, and receives in exchange from the server the associated content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Tohru Doumuki
  • Patent number: 7822791
    Abstract: Machine-readable media, methods, apparatus and system for flash memory reclaim are described. In some embodiment, a system may comprise a flash memory having a plurality of flash memory blocks, and a managing logic to manage a file operation on the flash memory. The managing logic may, during a foreground reclaim of the flash memory which is triggered by the file operation, select a foreground reclaim block from the plurality of flash memory blocks; search the foreground reclaim block for valid data; and copy the valid data from the foreground reclaim block to a flash memory block of the plurality of flash memory blocks, if the valid data is found. The managing logic may further erase the foreground reclaim block during a next reclaim of the flash memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Crane Chu
  • Publication number: 20100250839
    Abstract: A method for controlling a memory card which includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory whose memory area includes a plurality of write areas is disclosed. A first area which is a part of the plurality of write areas is set in accordance with management executed by a first file system. The first file system sequentially writes data along a direction in which addresses of the plurality of write areas increase. A second area which is a part of the plurality of write areas is set in accordance with management executed by a second file system. The second file system writes data in an order which does not depend on the addresses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Takafumi ITO, Hiroyuki Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20100241677
    Abstract: In response to an instruction to read/write data from a host device 2 employing a FAT file system that uses multiplexed file management information including a FAT 5a and a FAT 5b as backup information, a controller 11 that constitutes a memory system 1 including a NAND flash memory 12 as a non-volatile area uses a FAT 18 as file management information that does not include the backup information to handle the reading/writing of data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Takashi Oshima, Chikara Kondo
  • Publication number: 20100217922
    Abstract: An access module is connected to a storage module which stores multiplexed musical sound data in a non-compressed form. Based on a read request status of each sounding channel and access status of the nonvolatile storage module as a read target, a read instructing part transfers a read instruction to the storage module and reads musical sound data in parallel from the storage modules. In this musical sound generating system, since a plurality of pieces of musical sound data can be read from a plurality of nonvolatile storage modules in parallel, a sounding delay time can be made smaller than an acceptable time. For this reason, a prevailing mass NAND flash memory can be used as a memory for the musical sound data, thereby realizing a high sound quality and compact musical sound generating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: Masahiro Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 7779056
    Abstract: In a nonvolatile memory with block management system, data are written to blocks and are erasable block by block. At any time a pool of blocks are open for storing data concurrently. The number of blocks in the pool is limited. A replacement system allows new blocks to be introduced into the pool without exceeding the limit. In particular, different classes of blocks in the pool each has its own replacement rule, such as closing a least active block before being replaced. In this way, possible inefficiency and premature closure of blocks in the pool can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Sandisk Corporation
    Inventor: Jason Lin
  • Patent number: 7774392
    Abstract: In a nonvolatile memory with block management system, data are written to blocks and are erasable block by block. At any time a pool of blocks are open for storing data concurrently. The number of blocks in the pool is limited. A replacement system allows new blocks to be introduced into the pool without exceeding the limit. In particular, different classes of blocks in the pool each has its own replacement rule, such as closing a least active block before being replaced. In this way, possible inefficiency and premature closure of blocks in the pool can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventor: Jason Lin
  • Patent number: 7753281
    Abstract: A flash memory device is powered via an RF field generated by a host unit. A contactless communication channel is established between the flash memory device and the host unit. A first version of a data file, including a first plurality of data chunks, is downloaded from the flash memory device to the host unit. A second version of the data file, including a second plurality of data chunks, is generated at the host unit. Data chunk modifications to the first plurality of data chunks necessary to generate the second plurality of data chunks are identified at the host unit. The contactless communication channel is reestablished. The identified data chunk modifications to the first plurality of data chunks are performed thereby updating the first version of the data file stored on the flash memory device to the second version of the data file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jun Li, Riddhiman Ghosh, Kave Eshghi, Thomas Rathbone
  • Publication number: 20100161691
    Abstract: Provided are a method for providing a portable software computing environment and a portable storage device, which connect a computing environment in a low-speed portable storage device to a computer to provide it to a user. A portable software computing environment is changed into a file image to store the changed file image in a portable storage device. The file image of the portable storage device is copied in the storage of a host computer. An input/output request of an application operating in the portable software computing environment is intercepted, and a file is read from the file image copied in the storage of the host computer or a file is written in the copied file image. Changed information which is temporarily stored is reflected in the file image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: WON YOUNG KIM, KYOUNG I KU, MOON YOUNG CHUNG, WAN CHOI
  • Publication number: 20100057980
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method, a data storage device, and a system with a data storage device having an additional module (18,28), wherein the data storage device comprises at least one memory area, which can be accessed via specific memory structures or addresses, and at least one controller (16, 26) for controlling the access to the memory module, wherein at least one of the specific memory structures or addresses is defined as an additional functional address, and wherein the controller (16, 26) forwards an access to the memory module, which is effected via the additional functional address, to the additional module (18, 28).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Hans Aschauer, Armin Bartsch