Flash memory mass storage system

Abstract

An architecture for a mass storage system using flash memory is described. This architecture involves organizing the flash memory into a plurality of blocks. These blocks are then divided into several categories. One of the categories is a working category used to store data organized in accordance with a pre-defined addressing scheme (such as the logical block address used in Microsoft's operating system). The other category is a temporary buffer used to store data intended to be written to one of the working blocks. Another category contains blocks that need to be erased. When data is written into the mass storage system, a block in the second category is allocated from a block in the third category. The allocated block will then be changed to a block in the first category when writing to the allocated block is completed. The correspond block in the first category is placed into the third category. As a result, blocks can be recycled. Consequently, there is a constant supply of blocks in the second category. In another embodiment of the present invention, a new category is developed to handle random writing to the working blocks.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.