Binary encoding method with substantially uniform rate of changing of the binary elements and corresponding method of incrementation and decrementation

A method for inducing a substantially uniform mean change rate for each binary element of a set of binary elements of a memory unit, said set of binary elements being configured for successive storage of digital data elements, wherein the storage of a digital data element having a value N comprises the following steps:

• defining two distinct encoding fields of binary elements, namely, a reference field and a permutation field, said permutation field comprising a sufficient number of binary elements to permit a natural binary encoding of a number n.sub.R of distinct integer values;
• determining by Euclidian division of said value N by said number n.sub.R an integer quotient of value Q with an integer remainder of value R;
• computing a first sequence of binary elements corresponding to said value Q according to a first encoding logic;
• computing a second sequence of binary elements corresponding to said value R according to a second encoding logic;
• conducting an encoding permutation of the binary elements of said second sequence of binary elements as a function of said value Q, to form a permuted second sequence of binary elements;
• assigning said first sequence of binary elements to said reference field;
• and
• assigning said permuted second sequence of binary elements to said permutation field.

A method for inducing a substantially uniform mean change rate for each binary element of a set of binary elements of a memory unit, said set of binary elements being configured for successive storage of digital data elements, the method comprising the steps of:

• arranging the digital data elements to be stored to form a finite sequence of values changing sequentially,
• defining two distinct encoding fields of binary elements in said set of binary elements, namely, a reference field and a permutation field, and for each digital data element to be encoded, performing the steps of:
• associating with said digital data element to be encoded a first and a second sequence of binary elements according to a reversible mathematical function,
• assigning the first sequence of binary elements to the reference field,
• conducting a permutation of the binary elements of the second sequence of binary elements as a function of the first sequence of binary elements to form a permuted second sequence of binary elements, and
• assigning the permuted second sequence of binary elements to the permutation field, and
• selecting a next digital data element from said finite sequence of values.

A method for prolonging lifetime of a set of binary elements of a memory unit, the set of binary elements being configured for storage of digital data elements, the set of binary elements being designed to undergo an encoding cycle upon storage of each of said digital data elements, comprising the steps of:

• defining two distinct fields of binary elements, namely, a reference field and a permutation field,
• associating with each encoding cycle a number m representing the number of encoding cycles undergone by said set of binary elements, the number m being expressed as a first sequence of binary elements according to a first reversible mathematical function,
• associating with each of said digital data elements a second sequence of binary elements according to a second reversible mathematical function,
• assigning the first sequence of binary elements to the reference field,
• conducting a permutation of the binary elements of said second sequence of binary elements as a function of the first sequence of binary elements to form a permuted second sequence of binary elements,
• allocating the permuted second sequence of binary elements to the permutation field.

An apparatus for storing a value N belonging to a predetermined set of values, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory unit comprising a plurality of degradable binary elements and including two distinct encoding fields of binary elements, namely, a reference field and a permutation field, said permutation field comprising a sufficient number of binary elements to permit natural binary encoding of a number n.sub.R of distinct integer values;
• means for determining by Euclidian division of said value N by said number n.sub.R an integer quotient of value Q with an integer remainder of value R;
• means for computing a first sequence of binary elements corresponding to said value Q according to a first encoding logic;
• means for computing a second sequence of binary elements corresponding to said value R according to a second encoding logic;
• means for conducting an encoding permutation of the binary elements of said second sequence as a function of said value Q, to form a permuted second sequence of binary elements;
• means for assigning said first sequence of binary elements to said reference field;
• and
• means for assigning said permuted second sequence of binary elements to said permutation field.

An apparatus for storing a data element belonging to a predetermined set of data elements, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory unit comprising a plurality of degradable binary elements and including two distinct encoding fields of binary elements, namely, a reference field and a permutation field,
• means for associating with each digital data element to be stored a first and a second sequence of binary elements, according to a predetermined reversible mathematical function,
• means for assigning the first sequence of binary elements to the reference field,
• means for conducting a permutation of the binary elements of the second sequence of binary elements as a function of the first sequence of binary elements to form a permuted second sequence of binary elements, and
• means for assigning the permuted second sequence of binary elements to the permutation field.