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US6016536A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for backing up the system files in a hard disk drive

Assignee: Ye Te Wu
•
Filing: 1997-11-13
•
Granted: 2000-01-18
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Expires: 2017-11-13
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Abstract

Abstract In a memory management method for a computer with a hard disk drive, the hard disk drive is first partitioned into at least one system disk drive for storing system files therein, a data disk drive, a system buffer space and a read/write table. Thereafter, the computer is selectively operated in one of an unrestricted mode, where storing of the system files and modifying of the system files in the system disk drive by the computer are permitted, and a restricted mode, where modified portions of the system files in the system disk drive are stored by the computer in the system buffer space instead of the system disk drive to maintain the system files in the system disk drive in their initial form and where the read/write table is updated by the computer to record addresses of the modified portions in the system buffer space and addresses of portions of the system files in the system disk drive corresponding to the modified portions therein.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ye-Te Wu
  • 👤 Chia-Jui Tseng

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 13:43
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/70; G06F21/78; G06F21/80; G06F21/50; G06F21/55; G06F21/56; G06F21/566; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99952; Y10S707/99953

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 165 words
A memory management method for a computer with a hard disk drive, comprising the steps of: partitioning the hard disk drive into at least one system disk drive for storing system files therein, a data disk drive, a system buffer space and a read/write table; and selectively operating the computer in one of an unrestricted mode, where storing of the system files and modifying of the system files in the system disk drive by the computer are permitted, and a restricted mode, where modified portions of the system files in the system disk drive are stored by the computer in the system buffer space instead of the system disk drive to maintain the system files in the system disk drive in their initial form and where the read/write table is updated by the computer to record addresses of the modified portions in the system buffer space and addresses of portions of the system files in the system disk drive corresponding to the modified portions therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 165 words
A memory management method for a computer with a hard disk drive, comprising the steps of: partitioning the hard disk drive into at least one system disk drive for storing system files therein, a data disk drive, a system buffer space and a read/write table; and selectively operating the computer in one of an unrestricted mode, where storing of the system files and modifying of the system files in the system disk drive by the computer are permitted, and a restricted mode, where modified portions of the system files in the system disk drive are stored by the computer in the system buffer space instead of the system disk drive to maintain the system files in the system disk drive in their initial form and where the read/write table is updated by the computer to record addresses of the modified portions in the system buffer space and addresses of portions of the system files in the system disk drive corresponding to the modified portions therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 135 words
The memory management method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of, when the computer is operated to perform a read operation of the hard disk drive: enabling the computer to read the system disk drive when the read address is in the system disk drive while the computer is operated in the unrestricted mode; enabling the computer to read the system disk drive when the read address is in the system disk drive and is not recorded in the read/write table while the computer is operated in the restricted mode; and enabling the computer to read an address in the system buffer space corresponding to the read address when the read address is in the system disk drive and is recorded in the read/write table while the computer is operated in the restricted mode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 44 words
The memory management method of claim 2, further comprising the step of enabling the computer to read the data disk drive when the read address is in the data disk drive regardless of whether the computer is operated in the restricted or unrestricted mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 51 words
The memory management method of claim 2, further comprising the step of enabling the computer to perform a read emulation operation, where a read complete signal is generated thereby without actually performing a read operation when the read address is not in the system disk drive and the data disk drive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 60 words
The memory management method of claim 2, further comprising the step of selectively operating the computer in a system restoring mode, where the computer clears the read/write table to enable the computer to read the system disk drive when the read address is in the system disk drive regardless of whether the computer is in the restricted or unrestricted mode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 110 words
The memory management method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of, when the computer is operated to perform a write operation of the hard disk drive: enabling the computer to write into the system disk drive when the write address is in the system disk drive while the computer is operated in the unrestricted mode; and enabling the computer to write into the system buffer space when the write address is in the system disk drive while the computer is operated in the restricted mode, and to record the write address and the address in the system buffer space that corresponds to the write address in the read/write table.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 45 words
The memory management method of claim 6, further comprising the step of enabling the computer to write into the data disk drive when the write address is in the data disk drive regardless of whether the computer is operated in the restricted or unrestricted mode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 51 words
The memory management method of claim 7, further comprising the step of enabling the computer to perform a write emulation operation, where a write complete signal is generated thereby without actually performing a write operation when the write address is not in the system disk drive and the data disk drive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 29 words
The memory management method of claim 1, wherein partitioning of the hard disk drive is performed before control of the computer is taken over by a disk operating system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 42 words
The memory management method of claim 1, further comprising the step of enabling the computer, upon detection thereby of a format command, to perform a format emulation operation, where a format complete signal is generated without actually formatting the system disk drive.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 40 words
The memory management method of claim 1, further comprising the step of selectively operating the computer in an updating mode, where the system files in the system disk drive are updated with the modified portions in the system buffer space.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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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) 2003-01-17 2003-07-19 2004-01-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-01-17 2007-07-19 2008-01-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-01-17 2011-07-19 2012-01-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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