Semiconductor memory card access apparatus, a computer-readable recording medium, an initialization method, and a semiconductor memory card

A recording medium storing a program in a computer-readable format for initializing a computer to have file access performed on a semiconductor memory card that has a memory area comprising a plurality of sectors, each group of 2i consecutive sectors in the memory area forming a block (i being 0 or a positive integer), a block being a smallest unit on which data erasure can be performed, said recording medium being operable to cause the computer to:

• calculate a size of volume management information,
• reserve a first area used for recording the volume management information, and a second area used for recording user data, the first area having a data size larger than the calculated volume management information and including three or more blocks, and the second area being formed from blocks following the first area;
• and
• record volume management information in the first area, and user data in the second area;
• wherein the volume management information includes a master boot record, a partition table, partition boot sector information, a file allocation table, and a root directory entry;
• and
• wherein, in the recording, the master boot record and the partition table are recorded in a first sector of a first block of the first area, the root directory entry is recorded in a last block ofthe first area, and the partition boot sector information and the file allocation table are recorded in one or more consecutive blocks immediately before the last block of the first area.

An initialization method for initializing a computer to perform file access on a semiconductor memory card that has a memory area comprising, a plurality of sectors, each group of 2i consecutive sectors in the memory area forming a block (i being 0 or a positive integer), a block being a smallest unit on which data erasure can be performed, said initialization method comprising:

• calculating a size of volume management information;
• reserving a first area used for recording the volume management information, and a second area used for recording user data, the first area having a data size larger than the calculated volume management information and including three or more blocks, and the second area being formed from blocks following the first area;
• and
• recording volume management information in the first area, and user data in the second area;
• wherein the volume management information includes a master boot record, a partition table, partition boot sector information, a file allocation table, and a root directory entry;
• and
• wherein, in said recording, the master boot record and the partition table are recorded in a first sector of a first block of the first area, the root directory entry is recorded in a last block ofthe first area, and the partition boot sector information and the file allocation table are recorded in one or more consecutive blocks immediately before the last block of the first area.

A semiconductor memory card having a memory area that includes a protected area that can only be accessed by a device connected to the semiconductor card once an authenticity of the connected device has been verified, and a user data area that can be accessed by the connected device regardless of whether or not the authenticity of the connected device has been verified, the protected area and the user data area including a plurality of sectors, each group of 2i consecutive sectors forming a block (i being 0 or a positive integer), a block being a smallest unit on which data erasure can be performed, and at least one of the protected area and the user data area including:

• a first area, including three or more blocks, used for recording volume management information;
• and
• a second area, being formed from blocks following the first area, used for recording user data;
• the volume management information including a master boot record, a partition table, partition boot sector information, a file allocation table, and a root directory entry;
• wherein the master boot record and the partition table are recorded in a first sector of a first block of said first area;
• wherein the root directory entry is recorded in a last block of said first area;
• and
• the partition boot sector information and the file allocation table are recorded in one or more consecutive blocks immediately before the last block of said first area.