Data storing apparatus

• US 20050036372A1
• Filed: 04/14/2003
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sasaki, Junko
• Granted Patent: US 7,039,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 365/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0607 by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/064 Management of blocks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0643 Management of files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/08 from or to individual record carriers, e.g. punched card , memory card, integrated circuit [IC] card or smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A removable memory card (1) detachably mounted to a host device (2). The memory card (1) includes a non-volatile semiconductor memory in which data recorded in the memory is erased batch-wise in terms of a block of a predetermined data volume as a unit, a system information storage unit in which there is stored the inner information of the data storage device, and a controller for managing control for the semiconductor memory, based on a command supplied from the host device (2). The memory card (1) is able to accept a command for initialization. When supplied with the initializing command from the host device (2), the memory card (1) is responsive to the parameters stored in the system information storage unit to effect logical formatting of a recording area on a semiconductor memory.

Claims

1. A removable data storage device, detachably mounted to a host device, comprising

a non-volatile semiconductor memory in which data recorded thereon is erased batch-wise in terms of a block of a predetermined data volume

a system information storage unit having the inner information of the data storage device recorded therein;

an interface for inputting/outputting data between the data storage device and said host device; and

a controller for managing control for said semiconductor memory, based on a command supplied from said host device over said interface;

wherein

a user area, as an area where data is recorded by a user, is provided in said semiconductor memory;

file management data is recorded in said user area, in agreement with the logical format, executing file management in terms of a cluster of a size equal to 1/n times the size of said block, as a unit, n being an integer not less than two, said host device accessing the user area based on said logical format;

there being stored in said system information storage unit parameters for recording said file management data on said user area; and

wherein

said controller when supplied with an initialization command from said host device records in said semiconductor memory the file management data which is in agreement with parameters stored in said system information storage unit.

2. The data storage device according to claim 1 wherein, when supplied with a parameter readout command from said host device, said controller sends the parameters, stored in said system information storage unit, to said host device over said interface.

3. The data storage device according to claim 1 wherein said system information storage unit is formed on said semiconductor memory.

4. The data storage device according to claim 2 wherein said file management data is in keeping with a logical format which supervises the recording data by setting logical addresses from one sector as a data read/write unit to another and in which said cluster is made up by a predetermined number of sectors.

5. The data storage device according to claim 4 wherein said logical format is such a one in which the leading sector in each block in said user area is coincident with the leading sector of said cluster.

6. The data storage device according to claim 5 wherein said file management data is made up by a master boot record (MBR), recorded in a sector of a leading logical address of said user area, a partition boot record (PBR), recorded in a sector of a leading logical address of each partition formed in said user area, a file allocation table (FAT) recorded across a plurality of sectors beginning from the sector of the logical address next following each PBR, and a route directory entry recorded across a plurality of sectors beginning from the sector of the next logical address to each FAT;

said MBR stating the logical address of the sector where the PBR has been recorded;

said PBR stating the information pertinent to the partition where said PBR has been recorded;

said FAT having formed, in association with the totality of the clusters in the partition, an area for storage of the interconnection information specifying the cluster connected next to a cluster in question;

said route directory entry stating the entry information for a file arranged in the uppermost directory and a subdirectory;

said entity data recorded in each partition being recorded as from a sector next following the route directory entry.

7. The data storage device according to claim 6 wherein said logical format is set so that a recording area for the interconnection information for n consecutive clusters recorded in one block is formed in a self-complete form in one sector.

8. A host device to which a removable data storage device is detachably mounted, said host device including a host-side interface for accessing said data storage device;

said data storage device including a non-volatile semiconductor memory in which data recorded thereon is erased batch-wise in terms of a block of a predetermined data volume as a unit, a system information storage unit having the inner information of the data storage apparatus recorded therein, an interface for inputting/outputting data between the data storage device and said host device, and a controller for managing control for said semiconductor memory, based on a command supplied from said host device over said interface;

wherein a user area, as an area where data is recorded by a user, is provided in said semiconductor memory, file management data which is in keeping with the logical format for executing file management in terms of a cluster of a size equal to 1/n times the size of said block, as a unit, n being an integer not less than two, there being stored in said system information storage unit parameters for recording said file management data on said user area, and wherein said controller when supplied with an initialization command from said host device records in said semiconductor memory the file management data which is in keeping with parameters stored in said system information storage unit;

said host side interface usually accessing said data storage device based on said logical format and supplying the initializing command to said data storage device.

9. The host device according to claim 8 wherein, when supplied with a parameter readout command from said host device, said controller of the data storage device sends the parameters, stored in said system information storage unit, to said host device over said interface.

10. The host device according to claim 8 wherein said system information storage unit is formed on said semiconductor memory.

11. The host device according to claim 9 wherein said file management data is in keeping with a logical format which supervises the recording data by setting logical addresses from one sector as a data read/write unit to another and in which said cluster is made up by a predetermined number of sectors.

12. The host device according to claim 11 wherein said logical format is such a one in which the leading sector in each block in said user area is coincident with the leading sector of said cluster.

13. The host device according to claim 12 wherein said file management data is made up by a master boot record (MBR), recorded in a sector of a leading logical address of said user area, a partition boot record (PBR), recorded in a sector of a leading logical address of each partition formed in said user area, a file allocation table (FAT) recorded across a plurality of sectors beginning from the sector of the logical address next following each PBR, and a route directory entry recorded across a plurality of sectors beginning from the sector of the next logical address to each FAT;

said MBR stating the logical address of the sector where the PBR has been recorded;

said PBR stating the information pertinent to the partition where said PBR has been recorded;

said FAT having formed, in association with the totality of the clusters in the partition, an area for storage of the interconnection information specifying the cluster connected next to a cluster in question;

said route directory entry stating the entry information for a file arranged in the uppermost directory and a subdirectory;

said entity data recorded in each partition being recorded as from a sector next following the route directory entry.

14. The host device according to claim 13 wherein said logical format is set so that a recording area for the interconnection information for n consecutive clusters recorded in one block is formed in a self-complete form in one sector.

15. A data recording system including a host device and a removable data storage device, detachably mounted to said host device, wherein

said data storage device includes a non-volatile semiconductor memory in which data recorded thereon is erased batch-wise in terms of a block of a predetermined data volume as a unit;

a system information storage unit having the inner information of the host device recorded therein;

an interface for inputting/outputting data between the data storage device and said host device; and

a controller for managing control for said semiconductor memory, based on a command supplied from said host device over said interface; and

wherein

a user area, as an area where data is recorded by a user, is provided in said semiconductor memory;

file management data which is in keeping with the logical format is recorded in said user area, for executing file management in terms of a cluster of a size equal to 1/n times the size of said block, as a unit, n being an integer not less than two, said host device accessing the user area based on said logical format;

there being stored in said system information storage unit parameters for recording said file management data on said user area; and

wherein

said controller when supplied with an initialization command from said host device records in said semiconductor memory the file management data which is in agreement with parameters stored in said system information storage unit.

16. The data recording system according to claim 15 wherein, when supplied with a parameter readout command from said host device, said controller sends the parameters, stored in said system information storage unit, to said host device over said interface.

17. The data recording system according to claim 15 wherein said system information storage unit is formed on said semiconductor memory.

18. The data recording system according to claim 16 wherein said file management data is in keeping with a logical format which supervises the recording data by setting logical addresses from one sector as a data read/write unit to another and in which said cluster is made up by a predetermined number of sectors.

19. The data recording system according to claim 18 wherein said logical format is such a one in which the leading sector in each block in said user area is coincident with the leading sector of said cluster.

20. The data recording system according to claim 19 wherein said file management data is made up by a master boot record (MBR), recorded in a sector of a leading logical address of said user area, a partition boot record (PBR), recorded in a sector of a leading logical address of each partition formed in said user area, a file allocation table (FAT) recorded across a plurality of sectors beginning from the sector of the logical address next following each PBR, and a route directory entry recorded across a plurality of sectors beginning from the sector of the next logical address to each FAT;

said MBR stating the logical address of the sector where the PBR has been recorded;

said PBR stating the information pertinent to the partition where said PBR has been recorded;

said FAT having formed, in association with the totality of the clusters in the partition, an area for storage of the interconnection information specifying the cluster connected next to a cluster in question;

said route directory entry stating the entry information for a file arranged in the uppermost directory and a subdirectory;

said entity data recorded in each partition being recorded as from a sector next following the route directory entry.

21. The data recording system according to claim 20 wherein said logical format is set so that a recording area for the interconnection information for n consecutive clusters recorded in one block is formed in a self-complete form in one sector.

22. A data management method for a removable data storage device, detachably mounted to a host device, said data storage device including

a non-volatile semiconductor memory in which data recorded thereon is erased batch-wise in terms of a block of a predetermined data volume as

a system information storage unit having the inner information of the host device recorded therein;

an interface for inputting/outputting data between the data storage device and said host device; and

a controller for managing control for said semiconductor memory, based on a command supplied from said host device over said interface;

wherein

a user area, as an area where data is recorded by a user, is provided in said semiconductor memory;

file management data which is in keeping with the logical format is recorded in said user area, for executing file management in terms of a cluster of a size equal to 1/n times the size of said block, as a unit, n being an integer not less than two, said host device accessing the user area based on said logical format;

there being stored in said system information storage unit parameters for recording said file management data on said user area; and

wherein

when an initialization command is supplied from said host device, the file management data which is in agreement with parameters stored in said system information storage unit is recorded in said semiconductor memory.

23. The data management method according to claim 22 wherein, when a parameter readout command is supplied from said host device, the parameters stored in said system information storage unit are transmitted to said host device over said interface.

24. The data management method according to claim 22 wherein said system information storage unit is formed on said semiconductor memory.

25. The data management method according to claim 23 wherein said file management data is in keeping with a logical format which supervises the recording data by setting logical addresses from one sector as a data read/write unit to another and in which said cluster is made up by a predetermined number of sectors.

26. The data management method according to claim 25 wherein said logical format is such a one in which the leading sector in each block in said user area is coincident with the leading sector of said cluster.

27. The data management method according to claim 26 wherein said file management data is made up by a master boot record (MBR), recorded in a sector of a leading logical address of said user area, a partition boot record (PBR), recorded in a sector of a leading logical address of each partition formed in said user area, a file allocation table (FAT) recorded across a plurality of sectors beginning from the sector of the logical address next following each PBR, and a route directory entry recorded across a plurality of sectors beginning from the sector of the next logical address to each FAT;

said MBR stating the logical address of the sector where the PBR has been recorded;

said PBR stating the information pertinent to the partition where said PBR has been recorded;

said FAT having formed, in association with the totality of the clusters in the partition, an area for storage of the interconnection information specifying the cluster connected next to a cluster in question;

said route directory entry stating the entry information for a file arranged in the uppermost directory and a subdirectory;

said entity data recorded in each partition being recorded as from a sector next following the route directory entry.

28. The data management method according to claim 27 wherein said logical format is set so that a recording area for the interconnection information for n consecutive clusters recorded in one block is formed in a self-complete form in one sector.