Device and method for managing memory in an electronic watch

• US 20030123327A1
• Filed: 12/27/2002
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asulab SA (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Asulab SA (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: Guanter, Jean-Charles
• Granted Patent: US 7,042,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/82
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 11/00 Producing optical signals at preselected times
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

The device for managing memory in an electronic watch of the diary type includes a non-volatile memory (15) connected to a microprocessor unit (14). The unit is programmed to manage data and/or parameter storage and/or deletion operations in the memory. Activation of at least one key of the watch (C1) allows an instruction to be provided to the unit for managing data and/or parameter storage and/or deletion operations. The memory (15) includes a first static zone (100) for storing data and/or parameters in fixed memory locations and a second dynamic zone (101) for storing data records of different types. The memory location of each type of record is managed by the microprocessor unit (14) as a function of the modification or deletion of certain records and as a function of the storage of new records. Each record starts with a heading in which two pointers are placed to establish a link with a following record and a preceding record of the same type. The microprocessor unit (14) allows the data record memory case to be compacted or compressed in the dynamic zone (101) automatically or by activating at least one key of the watch (C1).

Claims

1. A memory management device in an electronic watch with control keys, the device including a non-volatile memory connected to a microprocessor unit programmed to manage data and/or parameter storage and/or deletion operations in the memory, activation of at least one key of the watch allowing an instruction to be provided to the unit for managing data and/or parameter storage and/or deletion operations, wherein the memory includes a first static zone for storing data and/or parameters in fixed memory locations and a second dynamic zone for storing data records of different types, the memory location of the records of each type being managed by the microprocessor unit as a function of the modification or deletion of certain records and as a function of the storage of new records, each record starting with a heading in which a first pointer is placed to establish a link between the records of the same type in the dynamic zone of the memory, and wherein the microprocessor unit is arranged to compact or compress the stored data record memory case of the dynamic zone automatically or by activating at least one validation key of the watch.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the static zone of the memory includes sets relating to each record type, wherein the number of records and two pointers for first and last records of each type are indicated so as to provide links to each chain in fixed memory locations to the microprocessor unit, and wherein the heading of each record includes a second pointer for determining with the first pointer the following and preceding records of the same type so as to allow the microprocessor unit to run through the records of each chain in two directions.

3. A device according to any of claims 1 and 2 for a diary watch, wherein the types of records to be stored concern note, address, diary and destruction records, wherein the static zone includes an empty zone pointer indicating the end of the last record stored in the dynamic zone so that the microprocessor unit provides control signals to a display drive device of the watch in order to indicate on at least one liquid crystal display of the watch the memory capacity used before or after the stored data record memory space compacting operation.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the microprocessor unit switches on the stored data record memory case compacting operation in the dynamic zone when a setting menu is selected by the unit under a heading relating to the memory capacity displayed on at least one liquid crystal display of the watch and when at least one validation key of the watch is activated for a determined period of time.

5. A device according to claim 3, wherein, when a note, address or diary type record is deleted, the microprocessor unit replaces the deleted record by a destruction record at the same location in the dynamic zone, the destruction record including a heading with two following and preceding destruction record pointers.

6. A method for managing memory in an electronic watch, which includes control keys, a non-volatile memory connected to a microprocessor unit programmed to manage data and/or parameter storage and/or deletion operations in the memory, the activation of at least one key of the watch allowing an instruction to be provided to the unit for managing data and/or parameter storage and/or deletion operations, said memory including a static zone for storing data and/or parameters in fixed locations and a dynamic zone for storing data records of different types, the record memory location being managed by the microprocessor unit as a function of the modification or deletion of certain records and as a function of the storage of new records wherein the method includes steps of:

storing data records of at least one type from among several types, each record type starting with a heading in which a first pointer is placed to establish a link between the records of the same type in the dynamic zone of the memory,

compacting or compressing the stored data record memory case in the dynamic zone of the memory by the microprocessor unit automatically or by activating at least one validation key of the watch, and

displaying on at least one liquid crystal display of the watch a used memory capacity before or after the stored data record memory case compacting operation.

7. A method according to claim 6 in a diary watch wherein the control keys are a determined number of touch sensitive sensors arranged on a watch crystal and a push-button, wherein it includes a preliminary step of:

pressing the push-button of the watch to activate its diary function, the sensors, the liquid crystal display and a part of the microprocessor unit being placed beforehand and/or after a period of inactivity of the diary function in a standby mode.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein, for the compacting operation, it includes a step of activating the validation key for a determined period of time in a setting menu selected by the microprocessor unit under a heading relating to the memory capacity displayed on at least one liquid crystal display of the watch.

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein, during the compacting operation, it includes steps of:

detecting empty cases from a first data record of the dynamic zone up to a second data record,

moving the second data record so that the start of this following record is put next to the end of the first record replacing empty cases between the two records,

adjusting the following and preceding record pointers of the second moved record,

successively repeating the three steps of empty case detection, record movement and pointer adjustment for all the records of the dynamic zone.

10. A method according to claim 6, wherein it includes, in a data record modifying operation, steps of:

moving the data record to be modified after the last record of the dynamic zone indicated by an empty zone pointer stored in the static zone,

modifying the data record,

comparing the size of the record before and after modification, if the size of the modified record is larger than the record before modification, this modified record remains the last record and the empty zone pointer indicates the end of this modified record, and if the size of the modified record is smaller than or equal to the size of the record before modification, the modified record is replaced at the initial location in the dynamic zone.