Method and apparatus for using a one-time or few-time programmable memory with a host device designed for erasable/rewritable memory
First Claim
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1. A memory device comprising:
- a memory array; and
a controller in communication with the memory array, wherein the controller is operative to;
(a) receive a request from a host device in communication with the memory device to write data to a first address in the memory array;
(b) compare the data requested to be written to the first address with data contained in the first address; and
(c) based on the comparison in (b), perform one of the following;
(c1) write the data to the first address;
(c2) without writing the data to the first address, inform the host device that the data was written to the first address; and
(c3) write the data to a second address instead of the first address.
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Abstract
The embodiments described herein can be used to enable one-time or few-time programmable memories to work with existing consumer electronic devices (such as those that work with flash—an erasable, non-volatile memory) without requiring a firmware upgrade, thereby providing backwards compatibility while minimizing user impact. As such, these embodiments are a viable way to bridge one-time or few-time programmable memories with existing consumer electronic devices that have flash card slots. These embodiments also allow future consumer electronic devices to be designed without updating firmware to include a file system customized for a one-time or few-time programmable memory.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A memory device comprising:
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a memory array; and a controller in communication with the memory array, wherein the controller is operative to; (a) receive a request from a host device in communication with the memory device to write data to a first address in the memory array; (b) compare the data requested to be written to the first address with data contained in the first address; and (c) based on the comparison in (b), perform one of the following; (c1) write the data to the first address; (c2) without writing the data to the first address, inform the host device that the data was written to the first address; and (c3) write the data to a second address instead of the first address. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A memory device comprising:
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a memory array storing a file system structure; and a controller in communication with the memory array, wherein the controller is operative to; (a) receive a request from a host device in communication with the memory device to write, in the file system structure, data that indicates a previously-allocated address is free; and (b) without writing the data in the file system structure, inform the host device that the data was written in the file system structure. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification