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Title: US7620769: Recycling partially-stale flash blocks using a sliding window for multi-level-cell (MLC) flash memory
[ Derwent Title ]

Country: US United States of America

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Inventor: Lee, Charles C.; Cupertino, CA, United States of America
Yu, Frank; Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
Ma, Abraham C.; Fremont, CA, United States of America
Shen, Ming-Shiang; Taipei Hsien, Taiwan

Assignee: Super Talent Electronics, Inc., San Jose, CA, United States of America
other patents from SUPER TALENT ELECTRONICS, INC. (849512) (approx. 1)
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Published / Filed: 2009-11-17 / 2007-02-13

Application Number: US2007000674645
IPC Code: Advanced: G06F 12/02;
Core: more...

ECLA Code: H01R13/629;

U.S. Class: 711/103; 711/156; 711/206;

Field of Search: Non/00e

Priority Number:
2007-02-13  US2007000674645
2000-01-06  US2000000478720
2006-08-23  US2006000466759
2004-02-26  US2004000789333

Abstract:     A sliding window of flash blocks is used to reduce wasted space occupied by stale data in a flash memory. The sliding window slides downward over a few flash blocks. The oldest block is examined for valid pages of data, and the valid pages are copied to the end of the sliding window so that the first block has only stale pages. The first block can then be erased and eventually re-used. A RAM usage table contains valid bits for pages in each block in the sliding window. A page's valid bit is changed from an erased, unwritten state to a valid state when data is written to the page. Later, when new host data replaces that data, the old page's valid bit is set to the stale state. A RAM stale-flags table keeps track of pages that are full of stale pages.

Attorney, Agent or Firm: Auvinen, Stuart T. ; g Patent LLC ;

Primary / Asst. Examiners: Nguyen, Than;

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Related Applications:
Application Number Filed Patent Pub. Date  Title
US2006000466759 2006-08-23       
US2004000789333 2004-02-26    2008-01-08  Managing flash memory including recycling obsolete sectors
US2000000478720 2000-01-06    2007-08-14  Electronic data storage medium with fingerprint verification capability


       
Parent Case: RELATED APPLICATION
    This application is a continuation-in-part of the application for “Electronic Data Storage Medium with Fingerprint Verification Capability”, U.S. Ser. No. 09/478,720, filed Jan. 6, 2000, and “Flash Memory Controller for Electronic Data Flash Card” U.S. Ser. No. 11/466,759, filed Aug. 23, 2006, which is a CIP of “System and Method for Controlling Flash Memory”, U.S. Ser. No. 10/789,333, filed Feb. 26, 2004, now abandoned.
    This application is related to “Flash memory device and architecture with multi level cells”, U.S. Ser. No. 10/800,228, filed Mar. 12, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,082,056, and “Flash drive/reader with serial-port controller and flash-memory controller mastering a second RAM-buffer bus parallel to a CPU bus”, U.S. Ser. No. 10/605,140, filed Sep. 10, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,874,044.

Family: Show 131 known family members
First Claim:
Show all 20 claims		     1. A flash-memory system comprising:

a flash memory arranged as blocks of multiple pages, wherein pages are written and blocks are erased, wherein individual pages are not individually erasable except by erasing all pages in the block;

a volatile lookup table having storing mapping entries, wherein a mapping entry stores a logical address of data from a host and a physical block address (PBA) indicating a location of the data within the flash memory;

a volatile usage table having valid bits for pages in the flash memory, wherein a valid bit for a page in the flash memory indicates a valid state when the page contains valid data, a stale state when the page contains data that has been replaced by newer data stored in a different page in the flash memory, and an erased state when the page has been erased and not yet written with data from the host;

a sliding window indicating blocks in the flash memory, wherein the sliding window indicates a first block and a last block within the sliding window;

a flash memory controller that relocates valid pages of data from the first block in the sliding window to the last block in the sliding window to allow the first block to be erased and recycled for later use;

wherein the valid pages in the first block have valid bits in the valid state in the volatile usage table;

whereby valid pages in the first block are relocated to allow erasing and recycling of the first block.

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U.S. References: Go to Result Set: All U.S. references   |  No patents reference this one   |   Backward references (12)   |   Citation Link

Buy
PDF		 Patent  Pub.Date  Inventor Assignee   Title
Buy PDF- 13pp US5581723  1996-12 Hasbun et al.  Intel Corporation Method and apparatus for retaining flash block structure data during erase operations in a flash EEPROM memory array
Buy PDF- 22pp US5682497  1997-10 Robinson  Intel Corporation Managing file structures for a flash memory file system in a computer
Buy PDF- 21pp US5778392  1998-07 Stockman et al.  Symantec Corporation Opportunistic tile-pulling, vacancy-filling method and apparatus for file-structure reorganization
Buy PDF- 22pp US5933368  1999-08 Ma et al.  Macronix International Co., Ltd. Flash memory mass storage system
Buy PDF- 17pp US6000006  1999-12 Bruce et al.  BIT Microsystems, Inc. Unified re-map and cache-index table with dual write-counters for wear-leveling of non-volatile flash RAM mass storage
Buy PDF- 20pp US6038636  2000-03 Brown, III et al.  Lexmark International, Inc. Method and apparatus for reclaiming and defragmenting a flash memory device
Buy PDF- 10pp US6282605  2001-08 Moore  Moore Computer Consultants, Inc. File system for non-volatile computer memory
Buy PDF- 13pp US6622199  2003-09 Spall et al.  Qualcomm Incorporated Method for minimizing data relocation overhead in flash based file systems
Buy PDF- 20pp US20060149899A1  2006-07 Zimmer et al.   Method and apparatus for ongoing block storage device management
Buy PDF- 13pp US20060149913A1  2006-07 Rothman et al.   Reducing memory fragmentation
Buy PDF- 68pp US20060155922A1  2006-07 Gorobets et al.   Non-volatile memory and method with improved indexing for scratch pad and update blocks
Buy PDF- 18pp US20070033332A1  2007-02 Sinclair et al.   Methods of Managing Blocks in NonVolatile Memory
       
Foreign References: None

Continuity Data:
Application Number Filed Notes
US2007000674645 2007-02-13  is a related to the prior publication
     US20070268754A1 issued 2007-11-22  Recycling Partially-Stale Flash Blocks Using a Sliding Window for Multi-Level-Cell (MLC) Flash Memory
US2007000674645 2007-02-13  is a related to the prior publication
     US20080233798A1 issued 2008-09-25  Multi-Level Cell (MLC) Slide Flash Memory
US2001000025706   is a continuation in part of
US2008000025706  2008-02-04   (pending)
     US20080256287A1 issued 2008-10-16   Methods and systems of managing memory addresses in a large capacity multi-level cell (MLC) based flash memory device
12050754   is a continuation in part of
US2008000025706  2008-02-04   (pending)
     US20080256287A1 issued 2008-10-16   Methods and systems of managing memory addresses in a large capacity multi-level cell (MLC) based flash memory device
12050748   is a continuation in part of
US2008000025706  2008-02-04   (pending)
     US20080256287A1 issued 2008-10-16   Methods and systems of managing memory addresses in a large capacity multi-level cell (MLC) based flash memory device
11927484   is a continuation in part of
US2007000929857  2007-10-30   (pending)
     US20080276099A1 issued 2008-11-06   Universal Serial Bus (USB) Flash Drive Having Locking Pins and Locking Grooves for Locking Swivel Cap
11874108   is a continuation in part of
US2007000927484  2007-10-29   (pending) [presumed granted]
     US7544073 issued 2009-06-09   Universal serial bus (USB) flash drive with swivel cap functionalities with two locking positions
11866927   is a continuation in part of
US2007000874108  2007-10-17   (pending)
     US20080261449A1 issued 2008-10-23   UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS (USB) FLASH DRIVE HOUSING A SLIM USB DEVICE AND HAVING SWIVEL CAP FUNCTIONALITIES ALLOWING FOR TWO LOCKING POSITIONS
12025706   is a continuation in part of
US2007000871627  2007-10-12   (pending)
     US20080034154A1 issued 2008-02-07   Multi-Channel Flash Module with Plane-Interleaved Sequential ECC Writes and Background Recycling to Restricted-Write Flash Chips
11871011   is a continuation in part of
US2007000871627  2007-10-12   (pending)
     US20080034154A1 issued 2008-02-07   Multi-Channel Flash Module with Plane-Interleaved Sequential ECC Writes and Background Recycling to Restricted-Write Flash Chips
11737226   is a continuation in part of
US2007000871627  2007-10-12   (pending)
     US20080034154A1 issued 2008-02-07   Multi-Channel Flash Module with Plane-Interleaved Sequential ECC Writes and Background Recycling to Restricted-Write Flash Chips
12025706   is a continuation in part of
US2007000871011  2007-10-11   (pending)
     US20080034153A1 issued 2008-02-07   Flash Module with Plane-Interleaved Sequential Writes to Restricted-Write Flash Chips
11871627   is a continuation in part of
US2007000871011  2007-10-11   (pending)
     US20080034153A1 issued 2008-02-07   Flash Module with Plane-Interleaved Sequential Writes to Restricted-Write Flash Chips
US2003000708172   is a continuation in part of
US2007000866927  2007-10-03   (pending)
US2000000478720   is a continuation in part of
US2007000866927  2007-10-03   (pending)
US1999000366976   is a continuation in part of
US2007000866927  2007-10-03   (pending)
US2005000957089   is a continuation in part of
US2007000864696  2007-09-28   (pending)
US2004000789333   is a continuation in part of
US2007000864696  2007-09-28   (pending)
11866927   is a continuation in part of
US2007000864696  2007-09-28   (pending)
11309847   is a continuation in part of
US2007000864696  2007-09-28   (pending)
11742270   is a continuation in part of
US2007000864671  2007-09-28   (pending)
     US20080071973A1 issued 2008-03-20   ELECTRONIC DATA FLASH CARD WITH VARIOUS FLASH MEMORY CELLS
11674645   is a continuation in part of
US2007000864671  2007-09-28   (pending)
     US20080071973A1 issued 2008-03-20   ELECTRONIC DATA FLASH CARD WITH VARIOUS FLASH MEMORY CELLS
US2004000789333   is a continuation in part of
US2007000845747  2007-08-27   (pending)
     US20070292009A1 issued 2007-12-20   Press/Push USB Flash Drive With Deploying And Retracting Functionalities With Elasticity Material And Fingerprint Verification Capability
12050748   is a continuation in part of
US2007000845747  2007-08-27   (pending)
     US20070292009A1 issued 2007-12-20   Press/Push USB Flash Drive With Deploying And Retracting Functionalities With Elasticity Material And Fingerprint Verification Capability
11685143   is a continuation in part of
US2007000770642  2007-06-28   (pending)
     US20070255891A1 issued 2007-11-01   High-Speed Controller for Phase-Change Memory Peripheral Device
US2004000789333   is a continuation in part of
US2007000742270  2007-04-30   (pending) [presumed granted]
     US7660941 issued 2010-02-09   Two-level RAM lookup table for block and page allocation and wear-leveling in limited-write flash-memories
US2000000478720   is a continuation in part of
US2007000742270  2007-04-30   (pending) [presumed granted]
     US7660941 issued 2010-02-09   Two-level RAM lookup table for block and page allocation and wear-leveling in limited-write flash-memories
11871011   is a continuation in part of
US2007000742270  2007-04-30   (pending) [presumed granted]
     US7660941 issued 2010-02-09   Two-level RAM lookup table for block and page allocation and wear-leveling in limited-write flash-memories
11674645   is a continuation in part of
US2007000742270  2007-04-30   (pending) [presumed granted]
     US7660941 issued 2010-02-09   Two-level RAM lookup table for block and page allocation and wear-leveling in limited-write flash-memories
US2004000789333   is a continuation in part of
US2007000737336  2007-04-19
     US7333364 issued 2008-02-19   Cell-downgrading and reference-voltage adjustment for a multi-bit-cell flash memory
11871627   is a continuation in part of
US2007000737336  2007-04-19
     US7333364 issued 2008-02-19   Cell-downgrading and reference-voltage adjustment for a multi-bit-cell flash memory
11742270   is a continuation in part of
US2007000737336  2007-04-19
     US7333364 issued 2008-02-19   Cell-downgrading and reference-voltage adjustment for a multi-bit-cell flash memory
11742270   is a continuation in part of
US2007000737226  2007-04-19   (pending)
     US20080044582A1 issued 2008-02-21   Aqueous textile printing composition and continuous textile printing method of aqueous textile printing composition
US2003000708172   is a continuation in part of
US2007000685143  2007-03-12   (pending)
US2000000478720   is a continuation in part of
>US2007000674645<  2007-02-13   (pending) [presumed granted]
     US7620769 issued 2009-11-17   Recycling partially-stale flash blocks using a sliding window for multi-level-cell (MLC) flash memory
11871011   is a continuation in part of
>US2007000674645<  2007-02-13   (pending) [presumed granted]
     US7620769 issued 2009-11-17   Recycling partially-stale flash blocks using a sliding window for multi-level-cell (MLC) flash memory
11864696   is a continuation in part of
>US2007000674645<  2007-02-13   (pending) [presumed granted]
     US7620769 issued 2009-11-17   Recycling partially-stale flash blocks using a sliding window for multi-level-cell (MLC) flash memory
11737336   is a continuation in part of
>US2007000674645<  2007-02-13   (pending) [presumed granted]
     US7620769 issued 2009-11-17   Recycling partially-stale flash blocks using a sliding window for multi-level-cell (MLC) flash memory
11871117   is a continuation in part of
US2007000626347  2007-01-23   (pending)
US2004000882539   is a continuation in part of
US2007000624667  2007-01-18   (pending)
     US20070130436A1 issued 2007-06-07   Electronic Data Storage Medium With Fingerprint Verification Capability
11924448   is a continuation in part of
US2007000624667  2007-01-18   (pending)
     US20070130436A1 issued 2007-06-07   Electronic Data Storage Medium With Fingerprint Verification Capability
11864696   is a continuation in part of
US2007000624667  2007-01-18   (pending)
     US20070130436A1 issued 2007-06-07   Electronic Data Storage Medium With Fingerprint Verification Capability
11742270   is a continuation in part of
US2007000624667  2007-01-18   (pending)
     US20070130436A1 issued 2007-06-07   Electronic Data Storage Medium With Fingerprint Verification Capability
>US2007000674645< 2007-02-13  is a continuation in part of
US2006000466759  2006-08-23   (pending)
     US20080005471A1 issued 2010-02-04   Flash Memory Controller For Electronic Data Flash Card
US2000000478720   is a continuation in part of
US2006000466759  2006-08-23   (pending)
     US20080005471A1 issued 2010-02-04   Flash Memory Controller For Electronic Data Flash Card
11674645   is a continuation in part of
US2006000466759  2006-08-23   (pending)
     US20080005471A1 issued 2010-02-04   Flash Memory Controller For Electronic Data Flash Card
11674645   is a continuation in part of
US2006000466759  2006-08-23   (abandoned)
     US20080005471A1 issued 2010-02-04   Flash Memory Controller For Electronic Data Flash Card
US2004000882539   is a continuation in part of
US2006000309847  2006-10-12   (pending) [presumed granted]
     US7507119 issued 2009-03-24   USB device with integrated USB plug with USB-substrate supporter inside
11742270   is a continuation in part of
US2004000957089  2004-10-01   (pending)
     US20060075395A1 issued 2006-04-06   Flash card system
US2004000789333   is a continuation in part of
US2004000882539  2004-06-30
     US7394661 issued 2008-07-01   System and method for providing a flash memory assembly
11845747   is a continuation in part of
US2004000882539  2004-06-30
     US7394661 issued 2008-07-01   System and method for providing a flash memory assembly
US2000000478720   is a continuation in part of
US2004000854004  2004-05-25   (pending)
     US20050197017A1 issued 2005-09-08   Extended secure-digital (SD) devices and hosts
11864696   is a continuation in part of
US2004000854004  2004-05-25   (pending)
     US20050197017A1 issued 2005-09-08   Extended secure-digital (SD) devices and hosts
11770642   is a continuation in part of
US2004000818653  2004-04-05
     US7243185 issued 2007-07-10   Flash memory system with a high-speed flash controller
>US2007000674645< 2007-02-13  is a continuation in part of
US2004000789333  2004-02-26   (pending) [presumed granted]
     US7318117 issued 2008-01-08   Managing flash memory including recycling obsolete sectors
11864671   is a continuation in part of
US2004000789333  2004-02-26
     US7318117 issued 2008-01-08   Managing flash memory including recycling obsolete sectors
11466759   is a continuation in part of
US2004000789333  2004-02-26
     US7318117 issued 2008-01-08   Managing flash memory including recycling obsolete sectors
US2004000854004   is a continuation in part of
US2004000708172  2004-02-12
     US7021971 issued 2006-04-04   Dual-personality extended-USB plug and receptacle with PCI-Express or Serial-At-Attachment extensions
12050748   is a continuation in part of
US2001000025706  2001-12-26
     US6887928 issued 2005-05-03   Method of improving viscosity stability upon addition of a colorant component
>US2007000674645< 2007-02-13  is a continuation in part of
US2000000478720  2000-01-06   (granted)
     US7257714 issued 2007-08-14   Electronic data storage medium with fingerprint verification capability
US2004000789333   is a continuation in part of
US2000000478720  2000-01-06
     US7257714 issued 2007-08-14   Electronic data storage medium with fingerprint verification capability
11737336   is a continuation in part of
US2000000478720  2000-01-06
     US7257714 issued 2007-08-14   Electronic data storage medium with fingerprint verification capability
11626347   is a continuation in part of
US2000000478720  2000-01-06
     US7257714 issued 2007-08-14   Electronic data storage medium with fingerprint verification capability
11624667   is a division of
US2000000478720  2000-01-06
     US7257714 issued 2007-08-14   Electronic data storage medium with fingerprint verification capability
US2000000478720   is a continuation in part of
US1999000366976  1999-08-04
     US6547130 issued 2003-04-15   Integrated circuit card with fingerprint verification capability
11864671   is a continuation in part of
12050748     (pending)


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