US5937434A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of managing a symmetrically blocked nonvolatile memory having a bifurcated storage architecture
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1997-02-14
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Granted: 1999-08-10
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Expires: 2017-02-14
Abstract
Abstract Methods of allocating, writing, reading, de-allocating, re-allocating, and reclaiming space within a nonvolatile memory having a bifurcated storage architecture are described. A method of storing an object within a managed object space of the nonvolatile memory includes the step of determining an object class for the object. Objects of a first class are stored contiguously proceeding from a first end towards a second end of the managed object space to form a first class of space. Objects of a second class are stored contiguously proceeding from the second end towards the first end of managed object space to form a second class of space. A header identifying the object is stored at a bottom of the first class of space. The object is stored at a selected one of the bottom of the first class of space and a bottom of the second class of space in accordance with the object class.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert N. Hasbun
- 👤 David A. Edwards
- 👤 Andrew H. Gafken
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:24
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F12/00; G06F12/02; G06F12/0223; G06F12/023; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/14; G06F11/1402; G06F11/1415; G06F11/1433; G06F12/0238; G06F12/0246
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of storing an object within a managed object space of a nonvolatile memory, comprising the steps of: determining an object class for the object, wherein objects of a first class are stored contiguously proceeding from a first end towards a second end of managed object space to form a first class of space, wherein objects of a second class are stored contiguously proceeding from the second end towards the first end of managed object space to form a second class of space; storing a header identifying the object at a bottom of the first class of space; and storing the object at a selected one of the bottom of the first class of space and a bottom of the second class of space in accordance with the object class.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of storing an object within a managed object space of a nonvolatile memory, comprising the steps of: determining an object class for the object, wherein objects of a first class are stored contiguously proceeding from a first end towards a second end of managed object space to form a first class of space, wherein objects of a second class are stored contiguously proceeding from the second end towards the first end of managed object space to form a second class of space; storing a header identifying the object at a bottom of the first class of space; and storing the object at a selected one of the bottom of the first class of space and a bottom of the second class of space in accordance with the object class.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the nonvolatile memory is a flash memory.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the nonvolatile memory is symmetrically blocked.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the nonvolatile memory is a boot device.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of writing an object into an allocated space within a managed object space of a nonvolatile memory, comprising the steps of: a) locating a header associated with the object within the managed object space, wherein objects are allocated within the nonvolatile memory in accordance with an object class, wherein objects of a first class including headers are allocated contiguously proceeding from a first end towards a second end of managed memory space to form a first class of object space, wherein objects of a second class are allocated contiguously proceeding from the second end towards the first end of managed object space to form a second class of object space; b) setting a status of the header to a first value; c) locating the allocated space for the object; d) writing the object to the allocated space; and e) setting the status of the header to a second value.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of writing an object into an allocated space within a managed object space of a nonvolatile memory, comprising the steps of: a) locating a header associated with the object within the managed object space, wherein objects are allocated within the nonvolatile memory in accordance with an object class, wherein objects of a first class including headers are allocated contiguously proceeding from a first end towards a second end of managed memory space to form a first class of object space, wherein objects of a second class are allocated contiguously proceeding from the second end towards the first end of managed object space to form a second class of object space; b) setting a status of the header to a first value; c) locating the allocated space for the object; d) writing the object to the allocated space; and e) setting the status of the header to a second value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the nonvolatile memory is a flash nonvolatile memory.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 5, wherein step c) further comprises the steps of: i) determining a size, n, of the allocated space from the header, if the object is of the first class of objects; and ii) identifying the location of the allocated space as an area of size n bound by the header.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 5 wherein step c) further comprises the steps of: i) calculating a total space allocated to preceding objects of the same class as the object, if the object is of the second class; and ii) identifying a location of the allocated space as an area of a size determined from the header bound by an offset from the bottom of managed object space, wherein the offset equals the total space.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of reading an object from an allocated space within a managed object space of a nonvolatile memory, comprising the steps of: a) locating a header associated with the object within the managed object space, wherein objects are allocated within the nonvolatile memory in accordance with an object class, wherein objects of a first class including headers are allocated contiguously proceeding from a first end towards a second end of managed memory space to form a first class of object space, wherein objects of a second class are allocated contiguously proceeding from the second end towards the first end of managed object space to form a second class of object space; b) determining a location the object; and c) reading the object from space allocated to one of the first and second classes in accordance with the location.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of reading an object from an allocated space within a managed object space of a nonvolatile memory, comprising the steps of: a) locating a header associated with the object within the managed object space, wherein objects are allocated within the nonvolatile memory in accordance with an object class, wherein objects of a first class including headers are allocated contiguously proceeding from a first end towards a second end of managed memory space to form a first class of object space, wherein objects of a second class are allocated contiguously proceeding from the second end towards the first end of managed object space to form a second class of object space; b) determining a location the object; and c) reading the object from space allocated to one of the first and second classes in accordance with the location.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the nonvolatile memory is a flash memory.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 9, wherein step b) further comprises the steps of: i) determining a size, n, of the allocated space from the header, if the object is of the first class of objects; and ii) identifying the location of the allocated space as an area of size n bound by the header.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 9 wherein step b) further comprises the steps of: i) calculating the total space allocated to preceding objects of the same class as the object, if the object is of the second class; and ii) identifying a location of the allocated space as an area of a size determined from the header bound by an offset from the bottom of managed object space, wherein the offset equals the total space.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-08-09 | 2003-02-08 | 2003-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-09 | 2007-02-08 | 2007-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-09 | 2011-02-08 | 2011-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |