Storage management system for memory card using memory allocation table.

摘要

A storage management system for a memory card (10), which has a storage area (12) divided into clusters (14) having a predetermined storage capacity, manages the storage of information in each cluster (14). The storage area (12) includes a MAT (18) for indicating the relationship of ones of the clusters (14) in which a group of mutually associated information is to be stored, and a directory (16) for indicating one of the clusters (14) in which the head portion of the group of mutually associated information is to be stored. Either the MATs (18) or the directories (16) indicate whether or not the storage management system inhibits information from being written in or erased of the clusters (14) associated with the MATs (18) or the directories (16). The system further includes a directory or cluster table (300, 302) which indicates whether the clusters (14) specified by the MATs (18) are empty or occupied. The directory or cluster table (300, 302) is set up after searching the directories (16) to trace the MATs (18) associated with the directories (16) in use, prior to writing information in the memory card (10). In this way, image data is efficiently managed to improve reliability of the storage management system.