Data processing method and apparatus

• US 6,330,633 B1
• Filed: 07/08/1998
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takada, Masayuki, Kusakabe, Susumu
• Primary Examiner(s): Yoo, Do Hyun
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODARZI, NASSER MOAZZAMI
• Application Number:
  US09/111,694
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 711/103, 365/185.29, 365/185.33, 365/230.03, 365/218, 395/712
• US Class Current: 711/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0246 in block erasable memory, e.g. flash memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/082 Features insuring the integrity of the data on or in the card
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

This invention relates to an information processing method and apparatus. A memory for storing information in block units, comprises a data region for storing data in block units and a first and a second region for storing plural block numbers which are numbers assigned to blocks in a data region. Data is written to a block of the data region corresponding to a block number stored in one of the first and second regions, the block number of the block to which data was written is stored in the other of the first and second regions, and the data in the one of the first and second regions is erased. In this way, there is less risk of memory corruption, and data can be read stably.

Claims

1. A data processing method using a memory for storing information in blocks units, wherein said memory comprises a data region for storing data in block units and a first region and a second region for storing plural block numbers which are number assigned to blocks in said data region, said method comprising the steps of:

writing data to a block of said data region corresponding to said block number in one of said first and second regions, wherein said first and second regions store newness information or effectiveness information relating to the newness or effectiveness of storage content in addition to said plurality block numbers, and one region of said first and second regions is selected based on at least one of said newness information and the effectiveness information,

then storing the block number of said block to which data was written in the other of said first and second regions, and

then erasing the block number in said one of said first and second regions.

2. A data processing method as defined in claim 1, wherein, when said effectiveness information shows that both of said first and second regions are effective, the data in one region which is deemed to be newest according to said newness information is updated, the data in the other region which is not deemed to be newest is erased, and the data is written to a block of said data region corresponding to said block number stored in said one of said regions.

3. A data processing method as defined in claim 1, wherein a block number of a block in which data was written is stored in said other of said regions, said newness information and effectiveness information in the other of said regions are updated, and the data in said one of said regions is erased.

4. A data processing method as defined in claim 1, wherein, when either of said first and second regions is selected based on said effectiveness information and the data in said other of said regions has not been erased, the data in said other of said regions is erased, and the data is written to a block corresponding to said block number stored in said one of said regions.

5. A data processing apparatus for performing data processing using a memory for storing information in block units, wherein said memory comprises:

a data region for storing data in said block units,

a pointer region for storing plural block numbers assigned to blocks in said data region, and

a first region and a second region for storing plural block numbers assigned to blocks in said pointer region, wherein said first and said second regions store newness information or effectiveness information relating to the newness or effectiveness of storage content in addition to said plural block numbers, and one region of said first and second regions is selected based on at least one of said newness information and the effectiveness information,

and wherein said apparatus is so operatively configured and programmed that;

data is written to a block corresponding to a block number in said pointer region in said one of said first and second regions, and to a corresponding block in said data region,

thereafter the block number of said block to which data was written is stored in a block of said pointer region, and the stored block number of the block in said pointer region is stored in the other of said first and second regions, and

thereafter the data stored in said one of said first and second regions is erased.

6. A data processing apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein, when said effectiveness infonnation shows that both of said first and second regions are effective, the data in one region which is deemed to be newest according to said newness information is updated, the data in the other region which is not deemed to be newest is erased, and the data is written to a block corresponding to said block in said pointer region number said one of said first and second regions, and to a corresponding block in said data region.

7. A data processing apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein a block number of a block in which data was written is stored in a block of said pointer region, the block number of the block in said pointer region is stored in said other of said first and second regions,

said newness information and effectiveness information in the other of said regions are updated, and the data in said one of said regions is erased.

8. A data processing apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein, when either of said first and second regions is selected based on said effectiveness information and the data in said other of said regions has not been erased, the data in said other of said regions is erased, and the data is written to a block region corresponding to said block number in said pointer region stored in said one of said first and second regions, and to a corresponding block in said data region.

9. A data processing method using a memory for storing information in block units, wherein said memory comprises a data region for storing data in block units and a first and a second region for storing plural block numbers pointers, said method comprising the steps of:

writing data to a block of said data region corresponding to a pointer in a pointer region identified from said block number pointer in one of said first and second regions, wherein said first and second regions store newness information or effectiveness information relating to the newness or effectiveness of storage content in addition to said plurality block number pointers, and one region of said first and second regions is selected based on at least one of said newness information and the effectiveness information;

storing the block number pointer that is associated with the pointer in the pointer region corresponding to the data in said data region; and

erasing the block number pointer in said one of said first and second regions.

10. The data processing method as defined in claim 9, wherein, when said effectiveness information shows that both of said first and second regions are effective, the data in one region which is deemed to be newest according to said newness information is updated, the data in the other region which is not deemed to be newest is erased, and the data is written to a block of said data region that is associated with the pointer in the pointer region identified by the block number pointer stored in said one of said regions.

11. A data processing method as defined in claim 9, wherein a block number of a block in which data was written is associated with a pointer stored in said pointer region identified by said other of said regions, said newness information and effectiveness information in the other of said regions are updated and the data in said one of said regions is erased.

12. A data processing method as defined in claim 9, wherein, when either of said first and second regions is selected based on said effectiveness information and the data in said other of said regions has not been erased, the data in said other of said regions is erased, and the data is written to a block corresponding to said block number stored in said one of said regions.