Method and apparatus for detecting static data area, wear-leveling, and merging data units in nonvolatile data storage device

A method of merging data units in a nonvolatile data storage device, the method comprising:

• storing an age value which indicates a write time in each unit assigned to have data written therein;
• reading the stored age values;
• detecting a plurality of units to be merged based on the read age values;
• and
• merging the plurality of units.

An apparatus comprising:

• an age recorder which stores an age value indicating a write time in each unit assigned to have data written therein;
• an age reader which reads an age value stored in a unit;
• and
• a static data determiner which determines a static data area based on the read age value,
• the static data determiner compares the read age value with an age counter value which is incremented every time a free unit in which no data is recorded, is assigned,
• wherein the age value stored is the same as the age counter value of when the data stored together with the age value was recorded.

An apparatus for merging data units in a nonvolatile data storage device, the apparatus comprising:

• an age recorder which stores an age value indicating a write time in each unit assigned to have data written therein;
• an age reader which reads the stored age values;
• a merge object search unit which detects a plurality of units to be merged based on the read age values;
• and
• a merge unit which merges the plurality of detected units.

A computer readable recording medium storing a computer readable program for executing a method comprising:

• storing an age value which indicates a write time in each unit assigned to write data therein;
• reading an age value stored in a unit;
• and
• determining whether the unit is a static data area based on the read age value,
• wherein the determining unit is a static data area comprises comparing the read age value with an age counter value which is incremented every time a free unit in which no data is recorded, is assigned, and
• wherein the age value stored is the same as the age counter value of when the data stored together with the age value was recorded.