System and method for managing flash memory

摘要

A system and method for flash memory management is provided. In particular, the system and methods herein provide for management of flash memory, particularly NAND flash memory, in a manner that potentially reduces the number of write/erase cycles typically experienced by a data storage device. When unsecure data records are to be written to the flash memory, the new or updated unsecure data records are stored in the first available location in the flash memory (e.g. a block) providing a best fit for the data records. Where the data records are updates, the updated version is stored with an incremented version number to indicate that the updated version is the current version. Older versions of the data records are deleted during garbage collection. When secure data records are to be written to the flash memory, new or updated secure data records are stored in the location in the flash memory with the most available space. Any older versions of secure data records are immediately deleted.

主权项

1. A method of managing flash memory, the method comprising:
in flash memory comprised in a single flash memory device: determining that a data record to be written to the flash memory is an unsecure data record; in response to determining that the data record to be written to the flash memory is an unsecure data record:
selecting a first block of said flash memory, the first block being selected as having a best fit for said unsecure data record; andwriting the unsecure data record to the first block of said flash memory; and determining that a further data record to be written to the flash memory is a secure data record; in response to determining that the further data record to be written to the flash memory is a secure data record:
selecting a second block of said flash memory, the second block being selected as having a maximum available space for receiving the secure data record; andwriting the secure data record to the second block of said flash memory.