Patent ID: 6587915
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: G06F,G11C

Abstract:
A method for controlling a flash memory having units wherein each of the units includes a plurality of data blocks for writing data, a plurality of spare blocks emptied for writing updated data of the data blocks, a map block for designating an actual location in which data is written with respect to a logical block number, and a header block for recording flash memory information and unit information, the method comprising steps of:controlling a mapping operation for mapping the data blocks within the flash memory, by using the map block to correlate the logical block number to the actual location in which data is written; controlling an allocate operation for allocating the data blocks among the units; controlling a read operation for reading the data in the data blocks; controlling a delete operation for designating a data block as â€œdeletedâ€ ; controlling an update operation for updating data of the data block; controlling a retrieve operation for restoring the unit to a reusable condition; and controlling a restore operation for restoring normal controlling operations of the flash memory after an error occurs.