Flash memory apparatus and access method to flash memory

• US 20070255890A1
• Filed: 04/04/2007
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yoshimoto, Masakazu, Urata, Kaoru
• Granted Patent: US 7,917,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0246 in block erasable memory, e.g. flash memory

Abstract

There is provided a flash memory apparatus for storing data aggregate having a plurality of types of data in and reproduce the data aggregate from a flash memory via a plurality of ports. The flash memory apparatus includes a plurality of access request units configure to request to write data in one block of the flash memory by aligning a writing position of one block data with a page unit on a data type basis of the flash memory when the data classified by type that are inputted via the ports corresponding to the access request units on the one-to-one basis are stored to reach an amount relative to one block of the flash memory, and an access controller configured to write the data in the flash memory during time division allocated per port based on the requests incited by the respective access request units.

Claims

1. A flash memory apparatus for storing data aggregate having a plurality of types of data in and reproduce the data aggregate from a flash memory via a plurality of ports, comprising:

a plurality of access request means for requesting to write data in one block of the flash memory by aligning a writing position of one block data with a page unit on a data type basis of the flash memory when the data classified by type inputted via the ports corresponding to the access request means on the one-to-one basis are stored to reach an amount relative to one block of the flash memory; and

access control means for writing the data in the flash memory during time division allocated per port based on the requests incited by the respective access request means.

2. A flash memory apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the access request means for requesting to read data with a page unit on a data type basis from the flash memory when reproducing the data aggregate via the corresponding ports;

and

the access control means for writing and/or reading the data from the flash memory during time division allocated per port based on the requests incited by the respective access request means.

3. A flash memory apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the access request means includes

a plurality of buffer memories provided for each type of data;

output means for outputting requests for transferring data when converting an amount of data stored in the buffer memories into the number of pages of the flash memory, and the sum of the pages reaches the pages relative to one block of the flash memory; and

request means for requesting the access control means for writing data stored in the buffer memories in one block of the flash memory based on the transfer requests by aligning a writing position of the one block data with a page unit on a data type basis in the flash memory.

4. A flash memory apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the access request means for requesting to capture to write the stored data in one block of the flash memory when the data fail to reach an amount relative to one block of the flash memory at an end of the data aggregate.

5. A flash memory apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the data aggregate includes video data and audio data.

6. A method for accessing to a flash memory on storing and reproducing data aggregate having a plurality of types of data via a plurality of ports, comprising:

a first step of requesting to write data in one block of the flash memory by aligning a writing position of one block data with a page unit on a data type basis in the flash memory when the data classified by type that are inputted via the ports corresponding to the access request means on the one-to-one basis are stored to reach an amount relative to one block of the flash memory; and

a second step of writing the data in the flash memory during time division allocated per port based on the requests incited by the first step.

7. A flash memory apparatus for storing data aggregate having a plurality of types of data in and reproduce the data aggregate from a flash memory via a plurality of ports, comprising:

a plurality of access request units configure to request for writing data in one block of flash memory by aligning a writing position of one block data with a page unit on a data type basis in the flash memory when the data classified by type that are inputted via the ports corresponding to the access request units on the one-to-one basis are stored to reach an amount relative to one block of the flash memory; and

an access controller configured to write the data in the flash memory during time division allocated per port based on the requests incited by the respective access request units.