Method and device for improving read performance of an embedded multimedia card

An electronic device, comprising:

• a host device;
• a flash memory device;
• and
• a flash memory controller, coupled to the host device and the flash memory device, wherein the flash memory controller comprises:
• a host interface for coupling to the host device;
• a flash memory interface for coupling to the flash memory device;
• a buffer;
• and
• a processing unit, coupled to the buffer, the host interface, and the flash memory interface, for receiving flash memory card commands from the host device through the host interface, and accessing the flash memory device through the flash memory interface, wherein the processing unit is configured to perform the following steps:
• (a) receiving a first open-ended read command from the host, wherein parameters of the first open-ended read command include a first data address;
• (b) reading a first batch of data from a flash memory device according to the first data address, storing the first batch of data in a buffer, and during this process, monitoring the amount of data stored in the buffer to identify when the amount of data reaches a threshold amount, at which point the amount of data is sent to the host device, wherein the threshold amount is less than a batch-read data amount;
• (c) reading a second batch of data from the flash memory device and storing the second batch of data in the buffer;
• and
• (d) checking if a stop command has been received from the host devices, and if the check result is YES, terminating the execution of the first open-ended read command.

A flash memory controller, coupled to a host device and a flash memory device, the flash memory controller comprising:

• a host interface for coupling to the host device;
• a flash memory interface for coupling to the flash memory device;
• a buffer;
• and
• a processing unit, coupled to the buffer, the host interface, and the flash memory interface, for receiving flash memory card commands from the host device through the host interface, and accessing the flash memory device through the flash memory interface, wherein the processing unit is configured to perform the following steps:
• (a) receiving a first open-ended read command from the host, wherein parameters of the first open-ended read command include a first data address;
• (b) reading a first batch of data from a flash memory device according to the first data address, storing the first batch of data in a buffer, and during this process, monitoring the amount of data stored in the buffer to identify when the amount of data reaches a threshold amount, at which point the amount of data is sent to the host device, wherein the threshold amount is less than a batch-read data amount;
• (c) reading a second batch of data from the flash memory device and storing the second batch of data in the buffer;
• and
• (d) checking if a stop command has been received from the host devices, and if the check result is YES, terminating the execution of the first open-ended read command.