Protection of non-volatile memory component against data corruption due to physical shock
First Claim
1. A method to operate a terminal, comprising:
- in response to initiating a data write operation with a non-volatile memory device, activating a sensor that is capable of detecting that the terminal is falling;
during the write operation, monitoring the sensor to determine if the terminal is falling; and
if it is determined that the terminal is falling, terminating the write operation and executing a non-volatile memory shutdown procedure, else, if it is determined that the terminal is not falling, completing the write operation and deactivating the sensor.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention provides a method to operate a terminal (100), as well as a terminal that operates in accordance with the method. The method includes, in response to initiating a data write operation with a non-volatile memory device (132), activating a sensor (190) that is capable of detecting that the terminal is falling; during the write operation, monitoring the sensor to determine if the terminal is falling and, if it is determined that the terminal is falling, terminating the write operation and executing a non-volatile memory shutdown procedure, else, if it is determined that the terminal is not falling, completing the write operation and deactivating the sensor.
32 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method to operate a terminal, comprising:
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in response to initiating a data write operation with a non-volatile memory device, activating a sensor that is capable of detecting that the terminal is falling;
during the write operation, monitoring the sensor to determine if the terminal is falling; and
if it is determined that the terminal is falling, terminating the write operation and executing a non-volatile memory shutdown procedure, else, if it is determined that the terminal is not falling, completing the write operation and deactivating the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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- 6. A terminal that comprises at least one non-volatile memory device, a sensor capable of detecting that the terminal is falling, and a controller coupled to the non-volatile memory device, said controller operating in response to initiating a data write operation with the non-volatile memory device to activate the sensor, and during the write operation, to monitor the sensor to determine if the terminal is falling and, if it is determined that the terminal is falling, to terminate the write operation and to cause the non-volatile memory to execute a non-volatile memory shutdown procedure, else, if it is determined that the terminal is not falling, to allow the write operation to complete and to deactivate the sensor.
- 14. A wireless communications terminal that comprises at least one non-volatile memory device, an acceleration sensor and a controller coupled to the non-volatile memory device, said controller operating in response to initiating a data write operation with the non-volatile memory device to activate the sensor, and during the write operation, to monitor the sensor to determine if the terminal is accelerating at a rate that indicates that the terminal is falling, and, if it is determined that the terminal is falling, to terminate the write operation and to cause the non-volatile memory to execute a non-volatile memory shutdown procedure, else, if it is determined that the terminal is not accelerating at a rate that indicates that the terminal is falling, to allow the write operation to complete and to deactivate the sensor.
- 22. A terminal that comprises at least one non-volatile memory device, a sensor capable of detecting that the terminal is falling, and a controller coupled to the non-volatile memory device, said controller operating in response to initiating an operation with the non-volatile memory device to activate the sensor, and during the operation, to monitor the sensor to determine if the terminal is falling and, if it is determined that the terminal is falling, to terminate the operation, else, if it is determined that the terminal is not falling, to allow the operation to complete and to deactivate the sensor.
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30. A computer program comprised of instructions to direct a computer, embodied in an enclosure, to be responsive to initiating an operation with a non-volatile memory device to activate a sensor that is capable of detecting that the enclosure is falling;
- during the operation, to monitor the sensor to determine if the enclosure is falling and, if it is determined that the enclosure is falling, to terminate the operation and to execute a non-volatile memory shutdown procedure, else, if it is determined that the enclosure is not falling, to complete the operation and to deactivate the sensor.
- View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
Specification