Patent ID: 7941589

Claim:
A semiconductor memory, comprising: a memory array including, a plurality of memory block areas which are controlled on a block-by-block basis; and a procedure memory area for storing procedure information on a predetermined process to be executed on only one of the plurality of memory block areas in said memory array; and a controller to receive an acquisition request for procedure information on said predetermined process to be executed on only said one of the plurality of memory block areas from an external control device in which a request for said predetermined process to be executed on only said one of the plurality of memory block areas is issued, and to acquire procedure information on said predetermined process to be executed on only said one of the plurality of memory block areas from said procedure memory area and giving said acquired procedure information to said external control device when the acquisition request is given, wherein the procedure information on said predetermined process to be executed on only said one of the plurality of memory block areas is encoded before said procedure information is given by said controller to said external control device to prevent said external control device from analyzing said procedure information, and said external control device sends the encoded procedure information to said controller for decoding the encoded procedure information and for executing said predetermined process on only said one of the plurality of memory block areas.