Flash Memory and EEPROM Storage Segmentation for SIM Card Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data-processing systems, such as high-capacity SIM cards, face performance and durability issues due to the limitations of flash memory, including serial write operations, high memory wear, and inefficiencies in managing user and management data, which slow down writing processes and reduce device reliability.
Innovation Solution
The system separates user data storage in flash memory and management data storage in EEPROM, allowing parallel write operations and reducing memory wear by using EEPROM for storing the mapping table and file metadata, thereby enhancing performance and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If flash memory is used for storing both user data and management data, then storage capacity is maximized, but write performance deteriorates due to serial write operations and memory wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the storage system into two separate memory components: flash memory for user data and EEPROM for management data (mapping tables and file metadata). This segmentation allows parallel write operations to occur simultaneously in both memories, eliminating the performance bottleneck caused by serial writes to a single flash memory device while preserving total storage capacity.
2Quantity of substance
If flash memory is used for storing both user data and management data, then storage capacity is maximized, but device durability deteriorates due to high memory wear
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the storage system into flash memory for user data and EEPROM for management data, the patent distributes write operations across two different memory technologies. EEPROM has higher write endurance than flash memory, so placing frequently updated management data in EEPROM reduces overall device wear and improves durability while maintaining total storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by matching memory technology characteristics to data requirements: flash memory is used for large-capacity user data storage where write endurance is less critical, while EEPROM is used for management data that requires frequent updates and has higher write endurance requirements. This localized optimization improves overall device durability.
3Device complexity
If serial write operations are used in flash memory, then device complexity is minimized, but writing speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the write operation into two parallel streams: user data writes to flash memory and management data writes to EEPROM. This segmentation enables simultaneous write operations, doubling the effective writing speed without significantly increasing system complexity, as each memory type maintains its own simple write interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a memory management intermediary that coordinates writes between flash memory and EEPROM. This intermediary layer handles the complexity of parallel write operations, allowing the system to achieve higher writing speeds while keeping the underlying memory interfaces simple and well-defined.
Data Source
AI summary
A SIM card including: (a) a first NVM for storing user data; and (b) a second NVM, separate from the first NVM, for storing management data related to the user data. Preferably, the first NVM is block-erasable and the second NVM is word-erasable erasable. Preferably, the first NVM is a flash memory and the second NVM is an EEPROM. Preferably, the management data includes a mapping table for mapping virtual addresses, of the first NVM, to physical device addresses. Preferably, the user data and the management data are organized in a file system. Most preferably, the management data includes at least one file allocation table. Most preferably, the management data includes at least one files directory, wherein at least one files directory includes at least one item selected from the group consisting of: a file name, a file size, a file attribute, and a physical address of a file sector.