Method For Utilizing A Memory Interface To Control Partitioning Of A Memory Module

• US 20130124793A1
• Filed: 01/07/2013
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Memory Technologies LLC (Pendrell Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Gyl, Yevgen, Hakkinen, Jussi, Mylly, Kimmo J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,856,488 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0623 for memory modules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2206/1014 One time programmable [OTP] memory, e.g. PROM, WORM
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/7204 Capacity control, e.g. partitioning, end-of-life degradation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/7211 Wear leveling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0619 in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0631 by allocating resources to storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0644 Management of space entities, e.g. partitions, extents, pools
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for implementing partitioning in memory cards and modules where conventional memory cards or modules have only a single partition. A representative memory card/module in accordance with the invention includes a memory device(s), and a memory interface which includes a data bus, a command line and a clock line. The memory card/module further includes a memory controller coupled to the memory device(s) and to the memory interface. The memory card/module includes means for controlling the partitioning of the memory device(s), and the memory controller is configured to operate the memory device(s) in accordance with the partition information.

Claims

1. A memory card or module comprising:

at least one memory device;

a memory interface comprising a data bus, a command line and a clock line;

a memory controller, connected to said at least one memory device and to said memory interface;

means for controlling the partitioning of said at least one memory device; and

wherein said memory controller is configured to operate said at least one memory device in accordance with said partition information.

2. A memory module according to claim 1, wherein said memory interface is a MMC/SD-card interface.

3. A memory module according to claim 1, wherein said partitioning information comprises information selected from but not limited to the group of:

size of each partition,

start address/stop address of each partition,

read only access/read-write access,

wear leveling information,

number of spare blocks, and

fixed partition or reconfigurable partition.

4. A memory module according to claim 1, wherein said at leas one memory device is a flash memory.

5. A memory module according to claim 1, wherein said at least one memory device, said memory controller and said means for controlling the partitioning of said at least one memory device are implemented on a single chip.

6. A memory module according to claim 1, wherein said memory controller is configured to check the correctness of said partition information.

7. A method for utilizing of memory interface for memory module, said method comprising:

receiving at a memory controller of a memory module, a signal indicative of partitioning information,

storing said partitioning information in a memory module, and

operating said at least one memory device by said memory controller in accordance with said partition information.

8. A method for utilizing of memory module according to claim 7, wherein said signal indicative of partitioning information comprises information selected from but not limited to the group of:

size of each partition,

start address/stop address of each partition,

read only access/read-write access,

wear leveling information for each partition,

number of spare blocks for each partition, and

fixed partition or reconfigurable partition;

wherein said storing said partitioning information further comprises extracting said information from said received signal and defining partitions of said at least one memory device, and

wherein operating said memory module in accordance with said partition information comprises accessing said at least one memory device in accordance with said defined partitions, and controlling read/write access and wear leveling for each partition separately.

9. A computer program capable of utilizing a memory module, comprising program code sections for carrying out the steps of claim 7, when said program is run on a memory module.

10. A computer program product for executing a method capable to utilize a memory module, comprising program code sections stored on a machine-readable medium for carrying out the steps of claim 7, when said program product is run on a controller or a memory module.

11. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing instructions, which when executed by a processor cause the steps of claim 7 to be carried out.

12. A method for utilizing of memory interface for memory module, said method comprising:

sending from a host device, a signal indicative of partitioning information, at a memory controller of a memory module, and

operating said at least one memory device by said memory controller in accordance with said partition information.

13. A method for utilizing of memory module according to claim 12, wherein said signal indicative of partitioning information comprises information selected from but not limited to the group of:

size of each partition,

start address/stop address of each partition,

read only access/read-write access,

wear leveling information for each partition,

number of spare blocks for each partition, and

fixed partition or reconfigurable partition,

wherein said sending of said partitioning information further comprises including said information into a signal to be sent, and

wherein operating said memory module in accordance with said partition information comprises accessing said at least one memory device in accordance with said defined partitions, and controlling read/write access and wear leveling for each partition separately.

14. A computer program capable of utilizing a memory module, comprising program code sections for carrying out the steps of claim 12, when said program is run on a memory module.

15. A computer program product for executing a method capable to utilize a memory module, comprising program code sections stored on a machine-readable medium for carrying out the steps of claim 12, when said program product is run on a controller or a memory module.

16. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing instructions, which when executed by a processor cause the steps of claim 12 to be carried out.