System and method for managing multiple file systems in a memory

A method for managing multiple file systems on a non-volatile memory system, wherein the non-volatile memory system comprises non-volatile memory, a plurality of file systems each associated with a respective portion of the non-volatile memory, and a controller in communication with the non-volatile memory, the method comprising the controller:

• receiving a file system mounting trigger;
• selecting one of the plurality of file systems based on the mounting trigger;
• determining a current amount of free space in the non-volatile memory;
• adjusting a size of a logical address range of the selected one of the plurality of file systems to include logical addresses for the current amount of free space in the non-volatile memory and logical addresses already associated with data managed by the selected one of the plurality of file systems;
• and
• presenting to a host the selected one of the plurality of file systems as having the adjusted size of the logical address range.

A method for managing both a first file system and a second file system on a non-volatile memory system, wherein the non-volatile memory system comprises non-volatile memory, each of the first and second file systems associated with respective files occupying a respective portion of the non-volatile memory, and a controller in communication with the non-volatile memory, the method comprising the controller:

• allocating a first portion of free space available in the non-volatile memory to the first file system;
• allocating a second portion of free space available in the non-volatile memory to the second file system;
• and
• updating the first file system to identify the second file system as a single file occupying an amount of physical capacity of the non-volatile memory system equal to a capacity of the respective files associated with the second file system and the second portion of free space available in the non-volatile memory.

A non-volatile memory system configured for communication with a host, the non-volatile memory system comprising:

• a non-volatile memory having a maximum storage capacity, the non-volatile memory containing:
• a first file system associated with data occupying a first portion of the maximum storage capacity;
• a second file system associated with data occupying a second portion of the maximum storage capacity, the first portion being different than the second portion;
• and
• a free space portion, the free space portion comprising available capacity remaining in the non-volatile memory other than the first portion and the second portion;
• and
• means, responsive to receipt of a file system mounting trigger for mounting the second file system, for:
• determining a current capacity associated with the free space portion,
• unmounting the first file system, and
• updating, independently of the host, the second file system to present a total capacity of the second file system to the host as a sum of the current capacity of the free space portion and an amount of the maximum storage capacity currently occupied by data associated with the second file system, while hiding the first file system from the host.