Patent ID: 8074128
Filing Date: 2011-12-06
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. A block management and replacement method, for a flash memory storage system, wherein the flash memory storage system has a plurality of physical blocks, the block management and replacement method comprising: grouping the physical blocks into a plurality of physical units and grouping the physical units into a usage area and a replacement area; using a multi-planes accessing command to access the physical blocks grouped in each of the physical units; judging whether the number of the undamaged physical units in the replacement area is bigger than a predetermined value when one of the physical blocks of the physical unit in the usage area is damaged; if the number of the undamaged physical units in the replacement area is bigger than the predetermined value, selecting one of the undamaged physical units from the replacement area for replacing the physical unit having the damaged physical block in the usage area in a unit of the physical unit to be accessible by the multi-planes accessing command and recording the undamaged physical blocks or the damaged physical blocks within the replaced physical unit; and if the number of the undamaged physical units in the replacement area is not bigger than the predetermined value, selecting one of the undamaged physical blocks from the replacement area for replacing the damaged physical block in a unit of the physical block.