Patent ID: 7577783
Filing Date: 2009-08-18
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. A method of dynamic memory management for a portable data storage device having a data storing zone and a reserved zone for bad blocks in the portable data storage device, the bad blocks being unusable and unrecoverable, said method comprising: a) providing a look-up table that lists a number (n) of all possible current and non-current configuration modes available for use by the portable data storage device, where (n) is a positive integer, each of the configuration modes defining a respective allocation size of the reserved zone relative to a combined total size of the data storing zone and the reserved zone, the configuration modes being listed in the look-up table in a sequence of increasing allocation sizes of the reserved zone; b) configuring the portable data storage device to use a kth configuration mode from the look-up table by setting the size of the reserved zone to be the allocation size of the reserved zone of the kth configuration mode, and setting the size of the data storing zone by a corresponding amount, where 1≦k≦n; c) determining a number of the bad blocks assigned to the reserved zone; d) with reference to the look-up table, determining if the number of the bad blocks assigned to the reserved zone is greater than a limit associated with the kth configuration model and e) if the number of the bad blocks assigned to the reserved zone is determined to be greater than the associated limit, reconfiguring the portable data storage device such that the configuration mode used thereby is changed from the kth configuration mode to the (k+1) th configuration mode, said reconfiguring being performed by setting the size of the reserved zone to be the allocation size of the reserved zone of the (k+1) th configuration mode, and setting the size of the data storing zone by a corresponding amount.