Patent ID: 7797573

Claim:
A memory management method for managing a non-volatile memory into which writing is performed in units of blocks, the memory management method comprising the steps of: assigning a plurality of blocks of the non-volatile memory to a management area formed of at least one block for storing management information, to a code area formed of a plurality of blocks into which program code is written, to a substitution area formed of a plurality of blocks for substituting for a defective block, and to an interference area formed of at least one block, the interference area being provided between the management area and the substitution area; storing at least correspondence information between a block of the substitution area and a defective block of a substitution target as management information within the management area; and using the block of the substitution area in place of the defective block on the basis of the correspondence information when the defective block is to be used, wherein, when a block of the management area becomes defective, the interference area is shifted to a block having a memory address closer to the interference area within the substitution area, so that one block of the original interference area is set as a new management area.