Flash Memory Area Management Block Control for Real-Time Recording
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional information recording methods struggle to maintain real-time performance during data recording on information recording media managed by a file system, particularly due to frequent updates of FATs and directory entries, which can lead to buffer overflow and decreased recording speed.
Innovation Solution
An information recording medium access device with an area management block control part that divides area management information into fixed-length blocks, calculates the number of empty clusters, and uses this information to assign recording areas, reducing the number of FAT updates and ensuring real-time performance by utilizing only areas with sufficient free space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional file system area management is used, then data can be recorded, but frequent FAT updates cause buffer overflow and decrease recording speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the area management information into multiple fixed-length blocks (first area management block, second area management block, etc.) instead of using a single unified FAT structure. Each block manages a specific portion of the recording area, allowing selective updates only when needed, thereby reducing the frequency of complete FAT updates and preventing buffer overflow while maintaining recording speed.
2Productivity
If free recording areas are used for real-time data recording, then recording can proceed, but arrangement of free areas affects performance consistency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by treating different area management blocks differently based on their specific characteristics and usage patterns. Each block is managed independently with its own free area tracking, allowing the system to adapt to local variations in free space distribution and maintain consistent real-time recording performance regardless of the overall arrangement of free recording areas in the storage medium.
3Reliability
If FAT updates are performed frequently, then area allocation is maintained, but recording speed decreases due to overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by updating only the specific area management blocks that are actually needed for current recording operations, rather than performing complete FAT updates throughout the entire storage medium. This selective updating approach maintains accurate area allocation information where required while minimizing the overhead of unnecessary updates, thereby preserving recording speed.
Data Source
AI summary
When moving image data or the like is recorded into an information recording medium, such as a flash memory, in real time, an influence of locations of free recording areas upon the recording speed is suppressed to ensure the real time performance of the data recording. In an access apparatus, there is provided an area management block control part that manages FAT1 and FAT2, which are area management information of a nonvolatile memory, on a FAT block-by-FAT block basis, and the length of the free recording area in each FAT block is calculated. Then, area management block information, in which the free recording area length in each FAT block is recorded, is generated on a RAM. A FAT block in which the free recording area length exceeds a threshold value is assigned to the data recording, thereby suppressing the number of updates of the area management information regardless of the location of the free areas. In this way, the buffer overflow can be prevented from occurring due to a high frequency of the updating of the area management information, thereby ensuring the real time performance during the data recording.