Flash Memory Section Address Mapping Table Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing data management methods in flash memory media are inefficient due to the need to frequently switch and regenerate section-address-mapping tables, leading to high time costs when reading or writing files that span multiple sections, as each block must be scanned to establish a new mapping table.
Innovation Solution
The method involves dividing flash memory blocks into sections, generating and storing section-address-mapping tables in backup blocks, allowing for direct access and conversion between physical and logic addresses without scanning each block, thereby reducing the need for frequent table regeneration during operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If section-address-mapping tables are regenerated by scanning each block during section switching, then the mapping information remains accurate and up-to-date, but the time cost and operational efficiency deteriorate significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-generating and storing section-address-mapping tables in backup blocks during an initialization phase before actual data operations. When section switching occurs during read/write operations, the pre-prepared mapping tables are directly loaded from backup blocks without requiring on-demand scanning and regeneration, thus eliminating the time penalty while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the flash memory into multiple sections, each with its own dedicated backup block for storing mapping tables. This segmentation allows independent management of mapping information for each section, enabling fast switching between sections by simply loading the corresponding pre-prepared mapping table from its backup block without affecting other sections.
2Speed
If section-address-mapping tables are stored in RAM only, then access speed is fast, but the system cannot maintain multiple section mappings simultaneously due to limited RAM capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where section-address-mapping tables are stored hierarchically: the primary mapping tables reside in RAM for fast access during active operations, while complete backup copies are embedded within each section's backup block in the flash memory. This nested arrangement allows the system to maintain multiple section mappings simultaneously by loading only the currently needed section's mapping table into RAM, while all other mappings remain safely stored in the backup blocks of their respective sections.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for data management in a flash memory medium is provided in the present invention, The method comprises the following steps: dividing a plurality of blocks of the flash memory medium into two or more sections; generating a section-address-mapping table by scanning logic addresses in the blocks in each section; storing the section-address-mapping table into a backup block in each section; and performing an operation of writing/reading by reading the section-address-mapping table, storing the section-address-mapping table to a RAM, and performing a conversion between a physical address and a logic address based on the section-address-mapping table stored in the RAM. Since the section-address-mapping tables are stored in the backup block in respective sections, when an operation of writing/reading is performed and it is necessary to switch to a section-address-mapping table for a next section, data stored in the next section can be read out based on the section-address-mapping table stored in the backup block in the next section, without needing to scan each block in the next section for generating a new section-address-mapping table dynamically. Therefore, the method of the present invention can save the time for operation and thus achieve effective management on data in the flash memory medium.