Write-once memory storage device

• US 20040003191A1
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Minne, Mark W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,857,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0238 Memory management in non-volatile memory, e.g. resistive RAM or ferroelectric memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0616 in relation to life time, e.g. increasing Mean Time Between Failures [MTBF]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0643 Management of files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0664 at device level, e.g. emulation of a storage device or system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 17/16 using electrically-fusible links
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 17/18 Auxiliary circuits, e.g. for writing into memory

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a write-once storage device. In one arrangement, the storage device comprises write-once memory adapted to store data files, re-writable memory that contains a file access table, and a device controller that is configured to control operation of the storage device. In use, the storage device can be used to receive data to be stored from a host device, store the data within write-once memory of the storage device, and update a file access table stored in re-writable memory of the storage device so as to emulate a re-writable storage card.

Claims

1. A write-once storage device for use with a host device, comprising:

write-once memory adapted to store data files;

re-writable memory that contains a file access table; and

a device controller that is configured to control operation of the storage device.

2. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the write-once memory comprises a cross-point array of memory cells.

3. The storage device of claim 2, wherein the memory cells are manipulable so as to have a first resistance state that corresponds to a first logic value and a second resistance state that corresponds to a second logic value.

4. The storage device of claim 3, wherein the write-once memory further comprises a read/write circuit with which potentials can be provided to the memory cells to switch the cells from the first resistance state to the second resistance state.

5. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the re-writable memory comprises flash memory.

6. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the device controller comprises logic that is configured to emulate a re-writable storage device.

7. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the storage device is formed as a storage card that is configured for insertion within the host device.

8. A write-once storage device for use with a host device, comprising:

a plurality of memory layers that comprise write-once memory, the memory layers being arranged in a stacked orientation and adapted to store data files;

re-writable memory that contains a file access table, which holds information about the data files stored in the write-once memory; and

a device controller that controls operation of the storage device, the device controller including logic configured to emulate a re-writable storage device.

9. The storage device of claim 8, wherein the write-once memory comprises a cross-point array of memory cells.

10. The storage device of claim 9, wherein the memory cells are manipulable so as to have a first resistance state that corresponds to a first logic value and a second resistance state that corresponds to a second logic value.

11. The storage device of claim 10, wherein the write-once memory further comprises a read/write circuit with which potentials can be provided to the memory cells to switch the cells from the first resistance state to the second resistance state.

12. The storage device of claim 8, wherein the re-writable memory comprises flash memory.

13. The storage device of claim 8, wherein the storage device is formed as a storage card that is configured for insertion within the host device.

14. A method for manipulating data provided by a host device, comprising the steps of:

receiving data to be stored with a storage device;

storing data within write-once memory of the storage device; and

updating a file access table stored in re-writable memory of the storage device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of designating data stored within the write-once memory as write-protected.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of receiving a command to delete data from the host device and emulating deletion of the data for the host device.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of storing data comprises storing data in write-once memory that comprises a cross-point array of memory cells.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of storing data comprises manipulating the cells so as to alter the resistance of selected cells.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of storing data comprises manipulating the cells so as to reduce the resistance of selected cells.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the storage device comprises a storage card.