Patent ID: 7818491

Claim:
A nonvolatile memory comprising: a count data region which is provided in a memory region and which includes a first group of a plurality of blocks, where each of the blocks of the first group is sequentially used to count up according to updating data; and a first number of times managing region which is provided in a memory region and which includes a single block with a plurality of parts which are the same number as the number of blocks in the first group, where the first number of times managing region manages a full-counted number of times in the blocks of the first group of the count data region; a second number of times managing region which is provided in a memory region and which manages a full-counted number of times that is full-counted when all of the parts of the single block of the first number of times managing region are full counted; wherein the parts of the single block are provided so as to correspond respectively to the blocks of the first group; wherein, after a first part of the single block corresponding to a first block of the first group is full-counted, a second block of the first group is used to count up according to succeeding updating data, and a second part of the single block is used to manage a full-counted number of times in the second block of the first group; and wherein each of the count data region and the first number of times managing region is structured with a block unit which is previously determined in the nonvolatile memory as a rewriting minimum unit for the updating data; wherein each of the count data region, the first number of times managing region, and the second number of times managing region is structured with a block unit which is previously determined in the nonvolatile memory as a rewriting minimum unit for the updating data; wherein the second number of times managing region includes a bit string comprised of a predetermined number of bits and manages the full-counted number of times of the first number of times managing region by means of that one bit of the bit string is set to be “1” and all other bits of the bit string being set to be “0”; and wherein the full-counted number of times of the first number of times managing region is recognized by detecting which bit of the bit string is set to be “1”.