Data updating and recovering methods for a non-volatile memory array

• US 8,296,503 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2009
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Inventors: Lin, Tzu-chieh, Chiang, Chun-ying, Tu, Li-chun, Chen, Hong-ching, Yang, Kun-chieh
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Denise
• Application Number:
  US12/471,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20100306447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 711/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0246 in block erasable memory, e.g. flash memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/7201 Logical to physical mapping or translation of blocks or pages

Abstract

Methods for updating and recovering user data of a non-volatile memory array such as a flash memory are disclosed. An indication for indicating a mapping relationship for a logical address is established when original user data of the logical addresses is updated into new user data. The indication records new pointers, which record the mapping relationships between logical addresses and physical addresses storing the new user data of the logical addresses. Alternatively, the indication records memory positions of the non-volatile memory array which are defined as designated memory positions and a sequence for using these designated memory positions.

Claims

1. A method for updating user data, the user data being associated with a plurality of logical addresses and a plurality of physical addresses of a first non-volatile memory, a pointer table recording a plurality of mapping relationships between the logical addresses and the physical addresses being stored in the first non-volatile memory, the method comprising:

writing new user data for a logical address to a memory position in the first non-volatile memory when original user data of the logical address is updated into the new user data, wherein the memory position is denoted by a new physical address;

establishing an indication other than the point table in a modification area of a second non-volatile memory, the indication indicating a mapping relationship between the logical address and the new physical address; and

revising the pointer table based on the indication when the modification area storing the indication is full.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the new user data of the logical address is written into the memory position denoted by the new physical address first, and then the indication is established.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is established first, and then the new user data of the logical address is written into the memory position denoted by the new physical address.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein writing the new user data of the logical address into the memory position denoted by the new physical address is executed in parallel with establishing the indication.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising cleaning the modification area after the revising step.