Patent ID: 6742078
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: G06F,G11C

Abstract:
A management and data link structure for a flash memory which is used to divide the flash memory into blocks with different functions, which include:a plurality of generally data blocks by which direct data access can be performed by a computer; a plurality of spare blocks which are used as back-ups for the general data blocks for storage of data from the computer which is to be written when repeated writing happens to the general data blocks which are addressed by the computer; a link table block which is used to store a check list between actual locations in the general data blocks and logical locations addressed by the computer, and to ensure data correctness by interchanging of the logical locations and the actual locations; a plurality of new blocks which are used as extensions of the general data, spare, or link table blocks, and as soon as a new block is incorporated into one of the general data, spare, or link table blocks it will never become a new block again; and defective blocks which arise when any of the general data, spare, link table, or new blocks is determined to be defective, the defective block being marked so that it will never be used again, wherein a management mode of the spare blocks is set up so as to provide a spare block stack, a head pointer and a tail pointer, the head pointer pointing to a first spare block which is ready to be used in the spare block stack and the tail pointer pointing to a first blank position after all the spare blocks, to be used to store a new spare block.