Patent ID: 6839568

Claim:
A user setting information management method comprising the steps of: when a predetermined event occurs, reading out user setting information stored in a built-in memory of a portable telephone to save the user setting information in a backup flash memory; and when the predetermined event is canceled, writing the user setting information saved in the flash memory in the built-in memory of the portable telephone, the save step having the steps of: dividing the flash memory into a plurality of independently erasable blocks; dividing each divided block into a user setting information area for writing user setting information to be backed up and a block management area for writing block management information for each block; generating a user setting information log representing a backup order as block management information for each block; comparing pieces of block management information of all blocks every occurrence of a predetermined event to identify a block having undergone oldest backup and a block having undergone newest backup; after data in the block having undergone oldest backup is erased, backing up data in the erased block; and writing block management information of the erased/backup block in the block having undergone newest backup.