Flash memory system providing both BIOS and user storage capability
First Claim
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1. A system, comprising:
- system memory means for storing user data;
central processing means connected to said system memory means for providing control functions of said system;
a system bus for communicating data between said system memory means, said central processing means and an integrated circuit package;
said integrated circuit package comprising;
flash memory means for storing both BIOS routines and said user data; and
controller means for interfacing said flash memory means and said system bus, said flash memory means storing emulation means for allowing a portion of said flash memory means to emulate a hard disk and said controller means including means for intercepting a BIOS boot process to install said emulation means in said system memory.
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Abstract
A flash memory system having a controller and a flash memory device for providing BIOS, operating system and user storage capabilities is provided. According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, flash memory systems can be designed as integrated circuit packages which are pin compatible with conventional ROM BIOS chips so that existing systems can be readily upgraded without extensive modifications.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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system memory means for storing user data; central processing means connected to said system memory means for providing control functions of said system; a system bus for communicating data between said system memory means, said central processing means and an integrated circuit package; said integrated circuit package comprising; flash memory means for storing both BIOS routines and said user data; and
controller means for interfacing said flash memory means and said system bus, said flash memory means storing emulation means for allowing a portion of said flash memory means to emulate a hard disk and said controller means including means for intercepting a BIOS boot process to install said emulation means in said system memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An integrated circuit package, comprising:
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flash memory means for storing both BIOS routines and user data; controller means for controlling access;
to said flash memory means; andpin means connected to said controller means for providing external connections to said integrated circuit package, wherein said flash memory means stores emulation means for allowing a portion of said flash memory means to emulate a hard disk and wherein said controller means includes means for intercepting a BIOS boot process to install said emulation means in the system memory. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A memory system for computers, comprising:
- a flash memory device that is divided into at least two portions, a first portion of said flash memory device storing low-level service routines for the operation of a computer, and a second portion of said flash memory device being configured to store user-designated information and a controller which operates as an interface between said flash memory device and an associated computer system, said controller including;
windowing means for mapping external addresses of the associated computer system to addresses in a selected portion of said flash memory device, to thereby establish a window to said selected portion of said flash memory device, and means connected to said windowing means responsive to memory accesses by the computer system for switching the selected portion of said flash memory device between said first and second portions, wherein said second portion of the flash memory device includes a first block of memory which stores a flash file management system, and at least one other block of memory which is adapted to store user-designated data. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
- a flash memory device that is divided into at least two portions, a first portion of said flash memory device storing low-level service routines for the operation of a computer, and a second portion of said flash memory device being configured to store user-designated information and a controller which operates as an interface between said flash memory device and an associated computer system, said controller including;
Specification