Controlling memory operations using a driver and flash memory type tables

• US 7,870,327 B1
• Filed: 04/25/2007
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Cornwell, Michael J., Dudte, Christopher P.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, HETUL B
• Application Number:
  US11/739,817
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 Days
• Field of Search: 711/103, 711/154
• US Class Current: 711/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0246 in block erasable memory, e.g. flash memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/7207 management of metadata or control data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

Systems and processes may include a first memory and a second memory. A driver and/or an application may be stored in the first memory. Flash memory type data of the first memory may be stored in the second memory. The driver may control the first memory at least partially based on the flash memory type data. The first memory may be exchanged for a third memory. The driver may be stored on the third memory. The flash memory type data for the third memory may be stored on the second memory.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing a driver for a first memory in the first memory, wherein the first memory comprises a flash memory, the first memory allows sequential access to data stored on the first memory, the driver configurable to operate with each of a plurality of different types of flash memory;

storing flash memory type data in a second memory independently accessible from the first memory, wherein the second memory allows random access to data stored on the second memory, the driver adapted to control the first memory at least partially based on the flash memory type data, the first memory and the driver separate from the second memory;

retrieving, by the driver, the flash memory type data from the separate second memory; and

configuring the driver to manage the first memory in response to at least the flash memory type data retrieved from the second memory.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the flash memory type data includes a manufacturer of the first memory.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the flash memory type data includes a size of the first memory.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the flash memory type data includes a timing of the first memory.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first memory comprises NAND flash memory.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the second memory comprises NOR flash memory.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing an operating application for a host in the first memory, wherein the host includes the first memory and the second memory.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising executing an application stored on the first memory using the driver.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising exchanging the first memory with a third memory and storing flash memory type data for the third memory in the second memory.

10. An article comprising a non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions for accessing a memory, the instructions operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

accessing a driver stored in a first memory, wherein the first memory allows sequential access to data stored on the first memory, the driver configurable to operate with each of a plurality of different types of flash memory;

accessing, by the driver, flash memory type data stored in a second memory, wherein the second memory allows random access to data stored on the second memory, the first memory and the driver separate from the second memory;

determining a flash memory type of the first memory based on the flash memory type data;

configuring the driver to manage the first memory in response to at least the determined flash memory type data; and

accessing data on the first memory using the configured driver, wherein the driver is operable to control the first memory at least partially based on the flash memory type.

11. The article of claim 10 wherein the instructions are further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

accessing an application stored in the first memory; and

executing the application using the driver.

12. The article of claim 10 wherein the instructions are further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising accessing a flash memory type data for a third memory and operating the third memory using the driver stored in the first memory and the flash memory type data for the third memory.

13. The article of claim 10 wherein the instructions are further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

replacing the first memory with a third memory; and

storing the flash memory type data for the third memory in the second memory.

14. The article of claim 10 wherein the instructions are further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising determining an appropriate voltage for the first memory based on the flash memory type data.

15. The article of claim 10 wherein the instructions are further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising determining timing for the first memory based on the flash memory type data.

16. The article of claim 10 wherein the instructions are further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising determining a number of blocks in the first memory based on the flash memory type data.

17. A system comprising:

a first memory that stores a driver, wherein the first memory comprises a flash memory that allows sequential access to data stored on the first memory, the driver configurable to operate with each of a plurality of different types of flash memory;

a second memory independently accessible from the first memory, wherein the second memory comprises flash memory that allows random access to data stored on the second memory, the first memory and the driver separate from the second memory;

flash memory type data for the first memory, wherein the flash memory type data is stored in the second memory; and

a driver that retrieves the flash memory type data from the separate second memory and configured to control the first memory based at least partially on the flash memory type data.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising a third memory and flash memory type data for the third memory, and wherein the driver is configured to control the third memory based at least partially on the flash memory type data for the third memory.

19. The system of claim 17 further comprising an application stored in the first memory.