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Method and system for reducing memory access latency by providing fine grain direct access to flash memory concurrent with a block transfer therefrom

  • US 5,802,554 A
  • Filed: 03/05/1997
  • Issued: 09/01/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A data processing system including:

  • a flash memory device for storing data;

    a main memory device, separate from the flash memory device, and having a relatively faster access time than the flash memory device, for storing data;

    processor means for generating requests for data;

    a memory management unit which, responsive to the requests received from the processor means, provides direct single word access by the processor means to data stored in the flash memory device when a data request by the processor means is for data not presently stored in the main memory device, said memory management unit including;

    means for concurrently transferring blocks of data, including the data requested by the processor, from the flash memory device to the main memory device when a data request by the processor means is for data not presently stored in the main memory device, andmeans for comparing each request for data received from the processor to the data that has been transferred to the main memory device to preferentially provide the requested data from the main memory device.

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