Patent ID: 6427186
Filing Date: 2002-07-30
Classification: G06F,G11C

Abstract:
A method of writing new data to replace old data in a location defined by a logical block number, in an electrically-erasable media having a plurality of physical sectors, each having a plurality of non-volatile memory cells, with each physical sector having a location defined by an associated physical sector number, with said new data replacing said old data from a first physical sector number, said method comprising:determining from a master index table, a second physical sector number, different from said first physical sector number, corresponding to said logical block number, the second physical sector containing a table of other physical sector numbers including said first physical sector number; replacing said first physical sector number in said second physical sector by a third physical sector number, said third physical sector number different from said first physical sector number and different from said second physical sector number; the third physical sector containing erased memory cells; writing said new data to said erased memory cells of said third physical sector; marking the first physical sector as being ready for erasure; and erasing substantially simultaneously a plurality of physical sectors, including said first physical sector, each of which has been marked as being ready for erasure.