Content data storage device and its control method

This application is based on 19 March 2007 and in the submitted request for first No. 2007-071383 Japanese Patent application of the priority, in this reference the contents in its entirety as a reference.

Technical Field

The invention relates to using, for example, the NAND flash memory data block to the unit to erase non-volatile memory, to store the Image and voice content data of the content data storage device and its control method.

Background Art

NAND flash memory as a non-volatile memory with a large capacity, low cost. Therefore, the NAND flash memory used for a digital camera and a digital audio player and the like. In the NAND flash memory, writing speed is slow and that as the stored content of the data erase unit of the data block size is larger. The NAND flash memory used for civil equipment, these will not become a big problem. However, NAND flash memory is used for broadcasting the content of the data storage device, these problems become prominent.

Usually, the above-mentioned content data storage device needs to be of the material stored in a plurality of erase. Therefore, content data storage device a content data stored in the NAND flash memory to the data block size in an integer multiple of the memory capacity. Dynamic Image content data is content data as the broadband case, the capacity of the content data than the data block size to be large. Therefore, the size of the data block is an integer multiple of the capacity of the content data stored in the memory of the method, the waste of the memory is relatively small. However, content data is stationary, such as images or sounds under the condition of narrow, the capacity of the content data than the data block size to be small. Therefore, in the above-mentioned method, more memory.

Since the content data is voice, capacity is small, so that the write unit in the accumulated to as 1 page before data, content data storage device will not write data to the NAND flash memory. Moreover, even in the absence of the input sound, since the content of the data storage device write speed of the NAND flash memory is relatively slow, the load cannot be immediately terminated. That is to say, in the broadband dynamic Image and narrow band sound and Image mix under the state of the storage device by using the content data, if the narrow-band signal multi-, extreme deterioration of the efficiency of use of the memory, at the same time as a system generated the problem of slow write speed.

However, in the prior art in the content data storage device, as the write flash memory NAND method of slow speed, to a parallel connection of a plurality of NAND flash memory method. However, through the parallel connection of a plurality of NAND flash memory, the content data storage device than the erase unit of monomer be increased when the IC memory, NAND flash memory in response to the writing of the data block exists in the problem of larger size, become more prominent.

Moreover, there are also such examples, i.e., the dynamic Image and still picture is recorded to the storage medium, the recording of the dynamic Image in the cluster of large capacity, the static Image is recorded in the cluster of small capacity, effectively use the memory area of the storage medium (for example, reference to Japanese opens especially 2005-352899 of the statement).

Furthermore, there are also such examples, in other words, by setting the Image data with the sound data and writing and reading unit corresponding to the identification code of each data is managed, effectively use the vacant memory (for example, reference to Japanese extra Kaiping 10-13777, the communique)

Content of the invention

The subject of the present invention made in view of the above, the aim is to provide a content data storage device and method for controlling the same, in the broadband content data and the narrow-band of mixed in the presence of content data, high speed memory content data can be used, and can greatly improve the memory use efficiency.

The present invention relates to content data storage device, data in units of blocks by using a non-volatile memory can be erased (2-1-2-64), memory mixed there is a narrow-band material of the band material and content data, the content data storage device is provided with: bus width conversion unit (5), the transmission of the content data bus width of the bus for a plurality of expansion bus width of the system; storing part, with a plurality of groups of the non-volatile memory (2-1-2-64) are respectively connected to the plurality of system memory part on the bus; a plurality of switching unit (3-1-3-8), is arranged in a plurality on the bus system, selectively switching the derivation of the content data and indicating the write and read out of the address command signal and; the control part (1), the bus width has the conversion unit (5) converting said content data bus width conversion control, the storage part of the memory part states the multi-groups (2-1-2-8, 2-9-2-16, the [...] , 2-57-2-64) in any of a group of non-volatile memory is switched to the activation status of a state control, and selectively switching the plurality of switching unit (3-1-3-8) the function of the switching control of the, via the switching part (3-1-3-8) the bus width conversion of the content data, the address for the command signal to the unit and, therefore, the activation state of the non-volatile memory control the writing and reading of the content data; and a plurality of make-and-break department (4-1-4-8), is arranged in a plurality on the bus system, in accordance with on-off indication, of the plurality of each of the system on and off selectively by the plurality of switching unit (3-1-3-8) derived content data, command signal and the address; when the content data is under the condition of narrow-band material, through the plurality of make-and-break department (4-1-4-8) selectively on and off, or by the plurality of memory part (2-1-2-8, 2-9-2-16, the [...] , 2-57-2-64) in a non-volatile memory of a particular set of active state, increasing/decreasing the storage part of the arrangement of the non-volatile memory in the number, the size of the erase unit decision.

Through the following detailed description of the advantages of the present invention to clarify, one of the obvious advantages in part, by the present invention or can be learned by the practice of the. The advantage of this invention can be pointed out by the following technical means to achieve various combinations of and and the obtained.

Description of drawings

Including in the specification and as the Figure a part of the specification, illustrate the embodiment of this invention, and given above and below a SUMMARY of the detailed embodiment is given together with the description of the, is used for explaining the principle of this invention.

Figure 1 shows the present invention relates to data storage device of the contents of one embodiment of a structure of the block diagram.

Figure 2 that the above-mentioned one embodiment of a bus/memory control circuit of the flow chart of the processing work.

Figure 3 shows the above-mentioned one embodiment of a dynamic Image, sound and Image content data a schematic diagram of the input state.

Figure 4 that the above-mentioned one embodiment of the content of the NAND flash memory of the data storage area on the concept graph.

Figure 5 to the above-mentioned is one embodiment of a NAND flash memory write content data the concept of the method of Figure.

Mode of execution

The following, with reference to detailed descriptions of embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, in this embodiment the dynamic Image is stored in the transmission speed is 96Mbps as an example to explain the situation. Usually in the memory when the dynamic Image is, processing data in units of frames. If the 96Mbps converted into equivalent to the amount of data frame (1 frame is about 33ms) the amount of data, then 96Mbps =12MB/s=400kB/frame (B is byte (byte)).

Shown below is used in this embodiment each parameter of the NAND flash memory.

Capacity: 4Gbit

Write unit: 1 page = 2048B

The erase unit: 1 data block = 64 page

= 131,072B

Write time: 0.7ms

Reading time: 0.1ms

Furthermore, in this embodiment is shown below using the content data input-output conditions of the storage apparatus.

Write: 1 channel

Reading: 10 track

As noted above, in using the contents of the NAND flash memory is written in the data storage device 1 page (2,048B) data, needs 0.7ms. Therefore, the 400 kilobyte data is written in the NAND flash memory, needs 137.2ms. In order to read and writing is performed at the same time, the content of the data storage device if the in the value adds 10 channel of the NAND flash memory 400 kilobyte read time 19.6ms, the need for writing to and reading 333.2ms. Therefore, content data storage device is not possible at 1 frame to within 400 kilobyte data write to the 1 a or from the NAND flash memory read. At this moment, such as the NAND flash memory 11 when the two are connected in parallel, and the writing time to the total time is read 30.3ms, content data storage device can realize 1 within write and read of the frame. That is to say, can store dynamic Image (400 kilobyte/frame).

If we consider the read/write of the pre-processing and post-processing time and other signal processing time, is connected in parallel with the number 2 to the power n of processing. In this, in this embodiment, the 64 is connected in parallel with a NAND flash memory. At this moment, if the data bus 8bit connected in parallel under the state of 64 a, will not be able to ignore the NAND flash memory to the write/read prior and post-processing time, because of the time using efficiency becomes bad, through bus width conversion, will 8bit bus conversion into 64bit, for each 8 in the group is divided into 8 groups connected in parallel. In this embodiment, using the assumption that 64 a 4G of   bit NAND flash memory, therefore, at this time all of the NAND flash memory capacity is 32 gigabyte. As content data the capacity of the memory device, 32 gigabyte is insufficient, if the above-mentioned 32 gigabyte unit continuously increasing address, to ensure that when the dynamic Image is high-speed writing and reading performance and at the same time, also can realize a large capacity.

Figure 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention relates to the content of the structure of the data storage device to the block diagram. In Figure 1 is shown in the content data storage device, according to the bus/memory control circuit 1 indicating, in CE (  Enable Chip, chip start-up) the activated NAND flash memory 2 in, through the switcher 3-1-3-8 and make-and-break department 4-1-4-8 from the bus/memory control circuit 1 supplies the command signal and the address. If the command signal and the address is supplied to the NAND flash memory 2, content data storage device will be output from the bus width conversion unit 5 is allocated to 64bit content data of the bus. Furthermore, content data storage device for writing data of its content of CE NAND flash memory is activated.

Furthermore, as the capacity of the storage device, the content data, 32 gigabyte is still not enough, to 64 units increase the NAND flash memory 2, and if in order to bus/memory control circuit 1 response address management, large capacity can be realized.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned structure by the bus/memory control circuit 1 the processing work.

Figure 2 shows one embodiment of the present invention relates to bus/memory control circuit   1 flow chart of the processing work.

First of all, in the broadband content data as the dynamic Image writing NAND flash memory 2-1-2-64 time, as initial settings, make-and-break department 4-1-4-8 all the state is set to be turned on. In this state, the bus/memory control circuit 1 executes the following processing. First of all, the bus/memory control circuit 1 so that the NAND flash memory 2-1-2-8 the CE1 is activated. (Step 2a) then, bus/memory control circuit 1 the switcher 3-1-3-8 side of the switch to the instruction (step 2b). Furthermore, bus/memory control circuit 1 provides write command and address (step 2c).

Furthermore, bus/memory control circuit 1 in the NAND flash memory 2-1-2-8 CE the activated state of the lower, the switcher 3-1-3-8 switching to data side , the bus control signal is supplied to the bus width conversion unit 5 (step 2d). Therefore, 1 pages of content data from the bus width conversion respectively 5 supplied to the input of the NAND flash memory buffer memory 21-1-21-8 in (step 2e). Therefore, 1 pages of content data is written into the memory element 22-1-22-8 in.

At this moment, in the NAND flash memory, 1 pages of content data write need 0.7ms. Therefore, if the 1-page content data provided to the input buffer memory 21-1-21-8, bus/memory control circuit 1 to the memory element does not wait until 22-1-22-8 the write completion, the activated CE is judged whether the number of less than 8 (step 2f). CE smaller than the number of 8 time (step 2f the "is"), bus/memory control circuit 1 will be activated of the switch to the next CE CE (step 2g), enter step 2b. When the number of the activated CE to 8 the above (step 2f of "no"), a series of the processing work of the end.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned structure that the content data of the dynamic Image is stored in a storage device, sound and examples of the still picture.

Figure 3 is generally said that one embodiment of the present invention relates to the dynamic Image, sound and the contents of the still picture a schematic diagram of the data input. Figure 3 (a) represent the input bus width conversion unit 5 the dynamic Image data, Figure 3 (b) to represent the input bus width conversion unit 5 and the bus width of the sound data of the sound data after transformation, Figure 3 (c) represent the input bus width conversion unit 5 still Image data.

Dynamic Image and a still Image of the single-channel (ch) more, so the input bus width conversion unit 5 of the signal as shown in Figure 3 (a), 3 (c) is the same as shown in. Compared with this, usually sound for the 8 channels more the condition of the material, as shown in Figure 3 (b) as shown, channel 1-8 of the content data of the respective channel to 1B parallel in units of input to the bus width conversion unit 5. If each channel of content data to 1B parallel in units of input to the bus width conversion unit 5, as shown in Figure 3 (b) shows, the divided according to each channel input to the bus.

If in make-and-break department 4-1-4-8 conduction under the state of all, switching CE1-CE8 one side, the width of one side of from the bus conversion unit 5 of the output sound data written to the NAND flash memory 2-1-2-64, the channel 1 of the content data is written to the NAND flash memory 2-1, 2-9, the [...] , 2-57. And, channel 2 of the content data is written to the NAND flash memory 2-2, 2-10, the [...] , 2-58. So, the content of the sound of each channel data as 1 to respectively store material 8 in a NAND flash memory.

Moreover, content data storage device only storing specific track of the content data of the sound, with the sound channel on only corresponding make-and-break department , can only the particular track of the content of the sound data is written in 8 in a NAND flash memory. Similarly, also can be used for only reading/erasing specific-channel audio content data.

Moreover, the still Image data at the same time, the command signal and the address supplied to the 8 group of NAND flash memory, only the 1 CE activation of a write. Because the 1 still Image is used for 8 NAND flash memory can be a sufficient storage capacity, so for example the CE1 is activated, the contents of the still Image data is stored in the NAND flash memory 2-1-2-8 in.

Furthermore, the sound and still Image content data, various kind of method is described to reduce content of the data storage device a method of erase unit, however, as long as the input material changes as the arrangement mode of the time shaft, can be through the same control processing sound and still Image.

Figure 4 is the content data on the NAND flash memory of the memory area of the concept graph. Content data storage device according to the dynamic Image, the still Image and voice using predicting in advance of implementation of the capacity to the NAND flash memory 2-1-2-64. Moreover, in these storage stored in each area dynamic Image, still Image and voice content data.

Furthermore, the above described dynamic Image, sound and Image write, but by the same control, read/erase can be performed.

However, in the content data storage device in the actual application, a dynamic Image area has not decided in advance, still picture area and sound region of the ratios of use. Under the circumstances, according to as described above to predict in advance the capacity is divided into 3 regions. However, to predict in advance and the actual consumption of the consumption of the very large difference, first of all filled with the one region. Therefore, even if the content as data storage device all the memory area has free, there are also cannot be written may be of the content data. In this, the dynamic Image area has not decided in advance, still picture area and the proportion of the area under the condition of use, because the entire memory region can be effectively utilized, so as shown in Figure 5 (a) shown in, bus/memory control circuit 1 can control the NAND flash memory to 2-1-2-64 of writing of the content data.

A dynamic Image by the writing of the band material, bus/memory control circuit 1 from the NAND flash memory 2 a starting address of the designated address, the address to provide write instruction is increased and the direction of the address, the writing of the wideband material. Therefore, wide band material as shown in Figure 5 (a) to from shows A according to the arrow H direction of the point of storage. On the other hand, in the load by the static Image or a sound when the narrow-band material a, bus/memory control circuit 1 from the NAND flash memory 2 as the end address of the designated address, by the address the direction of reduced to provide a write command and address, the writing of a narrow-band material. Therefore, narrow-band material as shown in Figure 5 (a) from shows B point according to the arrow L direction start of storage.

If adopt the above-mentioned Figure 5 (a) write-in method, in the whole memory circuit in the area of the spare area has only one. Therefore, if only managing a spare area, even without a complicated vacant area management, in accordance with the content data can also be automatically the storage capacity for regional distribution. Therefore, can effectively use the whole area of the memory.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned example, from the start address to the end address of the direction of the write direction as a broadband material, from the end address to the start address of the direction of the write direction as a narrow-band material, however, even if the band material from the end address of the load in the direction to the starting address, the narrow-band material from the start address to the end address of the load in the direction of, the same effect can be obtained.

And, fig. 5 (a) is a 64 a examples of the NAND flash memory, however, in large capacity (is provided with a plurality of groups and dynamic Image writing and reading rate corresponding, used for realizing the high-speed minimum unit of the flash memory unit, and to ensure that the necessary capacity) in the content data storage device, as shown in Figure 5 (b) shows, the same effect can be obtained. In this, in the content data storage device than the minimum flash memory of a large of the units, only fig. 5 (b)* segni position of the unit become Figure 5 (a),. In the other units, for example, a broadband material from the start address to the direction of the end address, in other words from the X point of storage to the arrow HH. Narrow-band material from the end address to the direction of the starting address, in other words from the Y point to the direction according to arrow LL storage.

As mentioned above, in the above one embodiment, in the content data stored in a storage device when the dynamic Image, the make-and-break department 4-1-4-8 CE all turned on to sequentially switches, can be stored in the 64 is connected in parallel with a in the NAND flash memory. In the memory when the voice, using bus width conversion unit 5 of each channel the sound output to the bus, will be stored in the voice of each channel with a bus connection with 8 is connected in parallel with a in the NAND flash memory. And, only store the sound of the particular sound channel, with the channel only through the turned on corresponding to make-and-break department 4-1-4-8, can only specific-channel audio is stored to the 8 is connected in parallel with a in the NAND flash memory. And, still Image is stored, at the same time, the command signal and the address supplied to the 8 group of NAND flash memory, so that only 1 CE activation of a write, can be stored with the bus connection to 8 is connected in parallel with a in the NAND flash memory.

Therefore, the when the dynamic Image is with the stored content data compared with the erase unit of the storage apparatus, the storage of sound and the still picture data storage device of the contents of the erase units to become 1/8, the content of the data storage device memory usage becomes 8 times. Therefore, in the dynamic Image, sound, still Image and mixing the contents of the data storage device, the usage rate of memory can also be improved.

Therefore, by pressing each of the content data stored in the NAND flash memory to change the parallel connections, even if the content data in the mixing of broadband and narrowband content data store, can be carried out can also realize high-speed data storage and a high rate of utilization of content of the memory of the data storage device. And, based on the content data storage device, the 8 NAND flash memory is connected in parallel with one of the stored sound of each channel, each channel of the easy alteration to the sound data.

Furthermore, this invention is not only limited to the above one embodiment. For example, in the above-mentioned one embodiment, the use of 64 NAND flash memory is used to store a 96Mbps of examples of the dynamic Image is described, however, even if the NAND flash memory is 64 a the number of the outside, and the transmission speed of the dynamic Image is not 96Mbps, also can be implemented.

Moreover, the sound is 8 channel example described, however, even if the channel number is 8 the number of outside, by adjusting the bus width conversion unit, also can be implemented.

Furthermore, the invention, through the implementation of the stage does not exceed the deformation of the thrust elements within the range of a, also may be particularly practical. Moreover, through appropriate combination of the above-mentioned embodiment relates to a plurality of constituent elements, various invention can be formed. For example, the embodiment can also be from all of the constituent elements shown in the erased in several constituent elements.

Those of skill in the art will be very easy to think of the invention in addition the advantages and the deformation. Therefore, the invention in its broader on the contrary, it is not limited to the shown and described specific details and representative embodiment. Therefore, without breaking away from the right by the appended claim and its equivalent, the overall principle of the present invention limit the spirit or scope of the the condition of, the kind of deformation can be made.