Patent ID: 6182188
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method of re-allocating object space within a block erasable nonvolatile memory, the method comprising:a) storing in a first data structure within the nonvolatile memory a location and a status of a first object, wherein a) includes:i) determining an object class for the first object, wherein objects of a first class are stored contiguously proceeding from a first end towards a second end of a managed object space within the nonvolatile memory to form a first class of space, wherein objects of a second class are stored contiguously proceeding from the second end towards the first end of managed object space to form a second class of space;ii) storing a first data structure header identifying the first data structure at a bottom of the first class of space; andiii) storing the first data structure at a selected one of the bottom of the first class of space and a bottom of the second class of space in accordance with the object class of the original object;b) storing in a second data structure within the nonvolatile memory a location of the first data structure to track the first data structure and a status of the re-allocating process;c) initiating a copy of the first object to form a duplicate object within the nonvolatile memory based on the status of the re-allocating process stored in the second data structure; andd) tracking a copying status stored in the first data structure of the first object.