Patent ID: 7302517

Claim:
An apparatus for controlling execute-in-place (XIP) in a serial flash, comprising: a cache module for accessing a designated memory address of the serial flash in response to a command received from a main control unit through a system interface unit, and reading or writing data required by the main control unit in a read or write operation; a serial flash controller comprising a boot loader for allowing system booting to be performed by reading boot codes written on the serial flash, the serial flash controller storing the boot codes in a buffer and immediately transmitting the boot codes to the main control unit when the main control unit requires the boot codes; and a flash interface unit for handling transmission and reception of data among the cache module, the serial flash controller and the serial flash, wherein the cache module comprises: a cache controller that if the read operation is required by the main control unit, accesses the serial flash, reads a page to which the designated memory address belongs, and transmits data in the read page corresponding to the designated memory address to the main control unit; a tag-storing unit on which storage information on the read page is written in response to an operation control of the cache controller; and a data-storing unit on which the read page is written.