JP2004362464A - Computer system using nonvolatile memory - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a computer system that can access the identical area of a nonvolatile memory as either of a main storage area and a file area. <P>SOLUTION: A memory mode processing part 111 provides processing for enabling a file on a file system to be accessed as data in a virtual memory space. A physical address calculated by a physical address calculation part 113 from a block number of a file is registered in a page table 500 in association with a virtual address acquired by a memory area acquisition part 114. Memory mode access is thus enabled. A file mode processing part 116 provides processing for saving data on a virtual memory space as a file. A block number calculated by a block number calculation part 118 from a physical address of a memory area is registered in a file management table 400. File mode access is thus enabled. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a computer system using a non-volatile memory, and more particularly to a computer system and a processing apparatus that allow a main memory and a file to coexist on a non-volatile memory, a processing method in these, and a method for causing a computer to execute the method. About the program.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a conventional computer system, a small-capacity, high-speed SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) or the like is used as a cache memory under a traditional memory hierarchical structure, and a medium-capacity, medium-speed DRAM ( Dynamic Random Access Memory) is used, and a large-capacity, low-speed magnetic disk device is used as an external storage device. The main storage area accessed by the memory address from the processor is held in the main storage device, and the file area accessed as a file is held in the magnetic disk device.
[0003]
The main storage device has a volatile property that the stored contents are lost when the power of the device is turned off, and the main storage area is cleared every time the power is turned off. On the other hand, the magnetic disk device has a nonvolatile property that the stored contents are not lost even when the power of the device is turned off, and the contents of the file stored in the magnetic disk device are maintained even after the power is turned off. You.
[0004]
On the other hand, a RAM disk has been used in which the access to the file is accelerated by arranging the file on the memory. This is to secure an area for a RAM disk in an extended memory area in the main storage device and use this area as a file area. However, since the main storage device is a volatile memory as described above, its contents cannot be maintained when the power is turned off as it is, and a method such as battery backup of the RAM disk area to protect the file contents has been adopted. It became necessary (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).
[0005]
On the other hand, in recent years, the development of an MRAM (Magnetic Random Access Memory) as a memory having a nonvolatile property has been advanced. This MRAM utilizes the TMR effect in a tunnel magnetoresistive (TMR) element in which an insulator is sandwiched between ferromagnetic substances. That is, in the TMR element, the electric resistance decreases when the spin directions of the ferromagnetic layers are parallel, and the electric resistance increases when the spin directions of the ferromagnetic layers are antiparallel. The state of the TMR element can be known by detecting the electric resistance. The spin direction of the ferromagnetic layer can be changed by an external magnetic field, and the state is maintained even when the magnetic field disappears. Thereby, a nonvolatile storage element is realized.
[0006]
Since this MRAM has a simple structure, it is expected to realize high-speed and high-integration of a storage element, and a technique for improving power consumption and the like has been proposed for practical use (for example, And Patent Document 2.).
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-8-147225 (FIG. 1)
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-2003-133528 (FIG. 1)
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, when a large-capacity and high-speed nonvolatile memory such as an MRAM is used for the main storage device, it becomes easy to provide a file area in the main storage device like a conventional RAM disk. This is because a non-volatile memory can store a file without being affected by power-off, and can be expected to access at a higher speed than a magnetic disk device.
[0009]
However, the file stored in the nonvolatile memory is a file to the last, and is recognized only as a file by software. Therefore, in order to access this file, the contents specified by the file name are temporarily transferred to a buffer in the main storage area, and the contents of the buffer are accessed. On the other hand, when the data in the main storage area is stored in a file, the data is transferred to the file area and stored as a file separately from the data in the main storage area.
[0010]
As described above, in a case where the main storage area and the file area are to be held in the non-volatile memory, the conventional technique determines whether the main storage area and the file area are handled as data or a file in the main storage area. It is necessary to perform data transfer, and the transfer time required for the data transfer becomes a problem.
[0011]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a computer system that can access the same area of a nonvolatile memory as both a main storage area and a file area.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a processing apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises: a file specifying unit that specifies a file existing in a nonvolatile memory and reads an access unit number of the file from a file management table; A physical address calculating means for calculating a physical address on the non-volatile memory based on the number, a memory area in a virtual address space, and registering in the address converter such that the physical address corresponds to the virtual address of the memory area Memory area acquisition means. This brings about an effect that the file specified by the file specifying unit can be accessed using the virtual memory obtained by the memory area obtaining unit.
[0013]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the processing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein a memory area on the nonvolatile memory is specified by a virtual address and a corresponding physical address is obtained from the address converter. The apparatus further comprises an area designating means for accessing the non-volatile memory by the physical address read by the memory area designating means. This brings about an effect that a file existing in the nonvolatile memory can be accessed using the virtual address specified by the memory area specifying means.
[0014]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the processing apparatus according to the second aspect, the non-volatile memory is accessed by the access unit number read by the file designating means. This brings about an effect that a file existing on the nonvolatile memory can be accessed using the virtual address and also accessible as a file.
[0015]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the processing apparatus of the first aspect, the file designating means deletes a file entry of the specified file from the file management table. This brings about an effect that access as a file is prohibited.
[0016]
Further, the processing device according to claim 5 of the present invention is configured to specify a memory area on a non-volatile memory by a virtual address and obtain a corresponding physical address from an address translator, based on the physical address. An access unit number calculating means for calculating an access unit number on the nonvolatile memory, and a file generating means for generating a file entry in a file management table and registering the access unit number in the file entry. This brings about the effect that the memory area on the non-volatile memory specified by the memory area specifying means can be accessed as a file.
[0017]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the processing apparatus according to the fifth aspect, a file designating means for designating a file on the nonvolatile memory and reading an access unit number of the file from the file management table. In addition, the non-volatile memory is accessed by the access unit number read by the file designating means. This brings about an effect that it is possible to access the memory area on the nonvolatile memory as the file specified by the file specifying means.
[0018]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the processing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the non-volatile memory is accessed by a physical address read by the memory area designating means. This brings about the effect that the memory area on the non-volatile memory can be accessed as a file and also as data.
[0019]
Also, in the processing device according to claim 8 of the present invention, in the processing device according to claim 5, the memory area designating means registers the designated virtual address in the address converter such that the designated virtual address becomes an unused state. It is. This brings about an effect of prohibiting access as data.
[0020]
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer system, comprising: a non-volatile memory; a processing device using the non-volatile memory as a main storage area and a file area; a file management table for managing files on the non-volatile memory; An address converter for converting a virtual address in the device to a physical address on the non-volatile memory, wherein the processing device specifies a file existing on the non-volatile memory and outputs the file from the file management table. File designating means for reading the access unit number of the file, physical address calculating means for calculating a physical address on the nonvolatile memory based on the access unit number, acquiring a memory area in a virtual address space, and Add the above physical address to the virtual address. There are those comprising a memory area obtaining means for registering in the address converter as corresponding. This brings about an effect that the file specified by the file specifying unit can be accessed using the virtual memory obtained by the memory area obtaining unit.
[0021]
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer system comprising: a non-volatile memory; a processing device using the non-volatile memory as a main storage area and a file area; a file management table for managing files on the non-volatile memory; An address converter for converting a virtual address in the device to a physical address on the non-volatile memory, wherein the non-volatile memory holds a plurality of types of page files, and the processing device is used as a main storage area. File specifying means for selecting and specifying a page file to be used from the plurality of types of page files and reading an access unit number of the specified page file from the file management table; and a nonvolatile memory based on the access unit number Calculate the above physical address A physical address computing unit, in which and a memory area obtaining means for registering in the address converter to the physical address to a virtual address of the memory area to retrieve the memory area corresponds in the virtual address space. This brings about an effect that it is possible to switch and use a plurality of types of page files as the execution environment of the computer system.
[0022]
A computer system according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention includes a non-volatile memory, a processing device using the non-volatile memory as a main storage area and a file area, a file management table for managing files on the non-volatile memory, An address converter for converting a virtual address in the device into a physical address on the non-volatile memory, wherein the processing device specifies the memory area on the non-volatile memory by a virtual address and performs the address conversion. Memory area specifying means for obtaining a corresponding physical address from a device, access unit number calculating means for calculating an access unit number in the nonvolatile memory based on the physical address, and generating a file entry in the file management table. Access the file entry It is intended and a file generation means for registering a unit number. This brings about the effect that the memory area on the non-volatile memory specified by the memory area specifying means can be accessed as a file.
[0023]
The processing method according to claim 12 of the present invention further comprises a step of designating a file existing in a nonvolatile memory and reading an access unit number of the file from a file management table, and a step of reading the nonvolatile memory based on the access unit number. A step of calculating the above physical address, a step of acquiring a memory area in the virtual address space, and a step of registering in the address translator such that the physical address corresponds to the virtual address of the acquired memory area. . This brings about an effect that the designated file can be accessed as data by the virtual address.
[0024]
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a processing method for generating a file entry on a file management table for managing a file on a non-volatile memory, and specifying a memory area on the non-volatile memory by a virtual address. A step of obtaining a corresponding physical address from the converter; a step of calculating an access unit number in the nonvolatile memory based on the physical address; and a step of registering the access unit number in the file entry. This brings about the effect that the specified memory area on the nonvolatile memory can be accessed as a file.
[0025]
A program according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention is a program for designating a file existing in a non-volatile memory and reading an access unit number of the file from a file management table. Calculating a physical address of the memory area in the virtual address space, and registering the physical address in the address converter so that the physical address corresponds to the virtual address of the obtained memory area. It is to let. This brings about an effect that the designated file can be accessed as data by the virtual address.
[0026]
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for generating a file entry on a file management table for managing a file on a nonvolatile memory, and performing address conversion by designating a memory area on the nonvolatile memory by a virtual address. Causing the computer to execute a procedure of obtaining a corresponding physical address from a device, a procedure of calculating an access unit number in the nonvolatile memory based on the physical address, and a procedure of registering the access unit number in the file entry. Things. This brings about the effect that the specified memory area on the nonvolatile memory can be accessed as a file.
[0027]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0028]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall configuration of a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the computer system 100, an instruction cache 120, an instruction memory management unit 130, a data cache 140, and a data memory management unit 150 are connected to the processor 110, and these instruction cache 120, instruction memory management unit 130, data cache 140 , And a bus controller 160 is connected to one of the data memory management units 150. The bus controller 160 and the nonvolatile memory 180 are connected by the memory bus 170.
[0029]
In this example, the processor 110 employs a so-called Harvard architecture having separate terminals for accessing instructions and terminals for accessing data. However, this is only an example, and the command and the data may be configured as a common terminal. An instruction cache 120 is connected to an instruction terminal of the processor 110 by an instruction input line 121. The instruction cache 120 reads an instruction that may be executed by the processor 110 from the nonvolatile memory 180 via an instruction input line 162 and holds the instruction in advance. Writing from the processor 110 is prohibited.
[0030]
An instruction address line 122 is further connected to the instruction side terminal of the processor 110, and a virtual address for accessing the instruction to the instruction cache 120 and the instruction memory management unit 130 is supplied from the instruction address line 122. The instruction memory management unit 130 includes an address translator, converts a virtual address from the processor 110 into a physical address, and outputs the physical address to the instruction address line 136.
[0031]
A data cache 140 is connected to a data side terminal of the processor 110 by a data input / output line 141. The data cache 140 is for reading data that may be used by the processor 110 from the nonvolatile memory 180 via the data input line 164 and holding the data in advance. The data cache 140 is read from the processor 110 and is allowed to be updated. When there is an update in the data cache 140, it is reflected in the nonvolatile memory 180 immediately or at a predetermined timing. The data input / output line 141 is also used to specify a block number and to transfer data when accessing the file system.
[0032]
A data address line 142 is further connected to the data side terminal of the processor 110, and a virtual address for accessing data to the data cache 140 and the data memory management unit 150 is supplied from the data address line 142. The data memory management unit 150 includes an address converter, converts a virtual address from the processor 110 into a physical address, and outputs the physical address to the data address line 156.
[0033]
The bus controller 160 controls the access to the memory bus 170 by connecting the memory bus 170 to one side, and the instruction address line 136, the instruction input line 162, the data input line 164, and the data address line to the other side. 156 are connected. The memory bus 170 transmits the physical address of the instruction and the data and the content of the instruction and the data.
[0034]
The non-volatile memory 180 is a storage device having a non-volatile property, and a high-speed and highly integrated storage element such as an MRAM is assumed. This non-volatile memory 180 functions not only as a main storage device that holds a main storage area, but also as an external storage device that holds a file area.
[0035]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a relationship between the virtual memory space 300 and the file system 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of the present invention, both the main storage area and the file area are held in nonvolatile memory 180. That is, from the viewpoint of the processor 110, the main storage area 310 and the file area 320 coexist on the virtual memory space 300, and both can be accessed by a virtual address.
[0036]
On the other hand, when this is regarded as a file system, the file system 200 includes a page file 210 corresponding to the main storage area 310 in addition to the user file 220 corresponding to the file area 320. The page file 210 is equivalent to a swap file in the virtual storage system, and holds the contents of the main storage area as a file. In the embodiment of the present invention, since the nonvolatile memory 180 itself functions as an external storage device at the swap destination, data transfer does not actually occur. That is, the page file 210 holds the contents of the main storage area 310 as a file, and can be accessed as a file on the file system 200 if necessary.
[0037]
Of course, the user file 220 can also be accessed as a file on the file system 200. In the embodiment of the present invention, this user file 220 can also be accessed from the virtual memory space 300, and can be accessed as a memory in the virtual memory space 300 by specifying a memory address in the file area 320.
[0038]
That is, in the embodiment of the present invention, both the main storage area and the file area are held in the non-volatile memory 180, and these can be accessed as memories in the virtual memory space 300, and Can also be accessed as
[0039]
In this example, for convenience of explanation, the main storage area 310 and the file area 320 are shown as being independent and independent, but these areas may be mixed in the virtual memory space.
[0040]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a mechanism for managing the file system 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The file system 200 is secured on continuous physical addresses starting from the head address (B) in the nonvolatile memory 180. The file system 200 is managed in an access unit called a block. Therefore, by specifying the block number (N) in the file system 200, the storage area can be specified. This access unit may be called a cluster.
[0041]
A file management table 400 is provided to manage files held in the file system 200. This file management table 400 is stored in the block number # 0 of the file system 200. The file management table 400 includes a directory area 410 and a file allocation table (FAT) 420. The directory area 410 holds a file name, a leading block number of the file, and the like in each file entry. The file allocation table 420 holds the next block number for each block in the file system 200. The file management table 400 associates a file name with a storage area on the file system 200.
[0042]
Each block in the file system 200 is assigned to a virtual address in the virtual memory space 300. For example, if the file A (321) is held in four blocks # 3, # 1, # 2, and # 5 on the file system 200, each block is accessed in units of pages on a virtual address. It is set to be able to. This setting is realized by a page table 500 described later.
[0043]
As for the relationship between the block on the file system 200 and the page on the virtual memory space 300, it is desirable that both have the same size or one is an integral multiple of the other. In other cases, the control is complicated because the tail is adjusted to the odd part. Generally, a block on the file system 200 often has a size larger than a page on the virtual memory space 300.
[0044]
Here, for example, 4 KB is assumed as the block size (S) and 2 KB is assumed as the page size (P). In this case, since two blocks are provided per block, $ 0 and $ 1 are repeated as the page number (M) in the block of the file A (321).
[0045]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the file management table 400 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As described above, the file management table 400 includes the directory area 410 holding information on each file and the file allocation table 420 holding the relationship between blocks of each file.
[0046]
The directory area 410 holds file entries corresponding to each file on the file system 200. Each file entry holds a file name 411, an update date and time 412, a file size 413, and a head block number 414. The file name 411 is a name for specifying a file. The rules for assigning the file name depend on the operating system. The update date and time 412 indicates the date and time when the file was finally updated. The file size 413 indicates the capacity occupied by the file. In this example, the file size 413 is in units of bytes. The head block number 414 indicates the head block number of the file. Therefore, when accessing the file, the file is accessed sequentially from the block indicated by the head block number 414.
[0047]
The file allocation table 420 indicates, for each block in the file system 200, whether or not the block is the last block, and if the block is not the last block, which is the next block. For example, the first file “FileA.txt” in the directory area 410 indicates “3” as the first block number 414, and the file allocation table 420 corresponding to this block number “3” indicates “3” as the next block number. 1 ". The file allocation table 420 corresponding to the block number “1” indicates “2” as the next block number. Further, the file allocation table 420 corresponding to the block number “2” indicates “5” as the next block number. The file allocation table 420 corresponding to the block number “5” indicates that the block is the last block of the file. That is, "FileA.txt" is held in four blocks in the order of block numbers "3", "1", "2", and "5".
[0048]
Thus, according to the file management table 400, the storage area on the file system 200 is specified by the block number from the file name. When the processor 110 accesses a file stored in the nonvolatile memory 180, the block number is supplied to the data input / output line 141.
[0049]
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the page table 500 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The page table 500 holds a page entry corresponding to the virtual page address 301. The virtual page address 301 is an upper address for identifying a page among the virtual addresses in the virtual memory space 300. The virtual page address 301 and the in-page address 302 constitute a virtual address.
[0050]
Each page entry holds a physical page address 501, protection information 502, and an empty flag 503. The physical page address 501 indicates the physical page address 201 corresponding to the virtual page address 301. The physical page address 201 is an upper address for identifying a page among the physical addresses in the nonvolatile memory 180, and the physical page address 201 and the in-page address 202 constitute a physical address. That is, the page table 500 functions as an address converter that converts a virtual address into a physical address. The intra-page address 302 is used as the intra-page address 202 without being converted.
[0051]
The protection information 502 is protection information related to the page, and indicates whether reading and updating of the page should be permitted according to each mode such as the privilege mode and the general mode. The empty flag 503 indicates whether a physical page is allocated to the virtual page. When the empty flag 503 indicates that "a physical page is allocated", it means that a valid physical page address is allocated to the physical page address 501. On the other hand, when the empty flag 503 indicates that “physical page is not allocated”, the virtual page is unused and can be allocated to another physical page if necessary. .
[0052]
This page table 500 is held in the nonvolatile memory 180 as an entity. However, since part or all of the contents are also held in the instruction memory management unit 130 and the data memory management unit 150, the instruction memory management unit 130 and the data memory management unit 150 substantially function as an address translator. become.
[0053]
In the configuration example of the page table 500, the corresponding physical page addresses are held for all the virtual pages. However, for example, a necessary page is stored by holding a pair of the virtual page address and the physical page address in the page table. Only the entries may be held. However, in this case, it is necessary to manage the free area of the virtual address by another data structure.
[0054]
Next, a description will be given of a process of converting memory contents into a file and storing the file contents into a memory according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0055]
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between data 311 in the virtual memory space 300 and a data file 211 in the file system 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Data 311 is generated in the main storage area 310 by the processor 110. The data 311 can be accessed as the page file 210, but can be stored as a file. When saving the data 311 as a file, it is possible to copy the data 311 to a file area and use it as the user file 220, but in this case, a time for data transfer is required.
[0056]
Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the entity of the data 311 in the main storage area 310 is saved as a data file 211 without being copied. For that purpose, a new file entry is created in the directory area 410 (FIG. 4) of the file management table 400, and the block number of the data file 211 is registered in the file allocation table 420 (FIG. 4) of the file management table 400.
[0057]
The block number when the data 311 is captured as the data file 211 can be obtained as follows. As shown in FIG. 3, assuming that the head address of the file system 200 based on the physical address is B and the block size in the file system 200 is S, the block number N corresponding to a certain physical address A is obtained by the following equation.
N = FLOOR ((AB) / S) [Equation 1]
However, in the above equation, FLOOR () means that the value in parentheses is rounded down to the decimal point.
[0058]
By registering the block number thus obtained in the directory area 410 and the file allocation table 420 (FIG. 4) of the file management table 400, the data 311 in the virtual memory space 300 can be stored in the file without data transfer. It can be stored as a data file 211 in the system 200.
[0059]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing boundary conditions when data 312 in virtual memory space 300 is stored as a file in the embodiment of the present invention. When the data 312 in the virtual memory space 300 is expanded into physical addresses in the nonvolatile memory 180, if the data 312 is divided into blocks 209 in the file system 200, for example, the data spans three blocks # 2, # 6, and # 4. And
[0060]
In this case, in order to store the data 312 as a file, the condition is that the data 312 starts from the head of the block # 2. This is because if the data 312 starts in the middle of the block # 2, if the data 312 is used as it is as a file, meaningless data will be included at the beginning of the file.
[0061]
On the other hand, even if the data 312 ends in the middle of the block # 4, there is no problem in saving the data 312 as a file. When saving as a file, the file is saved in units of blocks, but since the final position of the file contents can be known from the file size 413 (FIG. 4) of the directory area 410, unnecessary areas can be ignored. Because.
[0062]
Up to this point, the processing when the data 312 in the virtual memory space 300 is stored as a file has been described. However, when the user file 220 on the file system 200 is accessed as data in the virtual memory space 300, By converting the block number of the file 220 into a physical address and registering it in the page table 500 (FIG. 5), the file can be accessed from the virtual memory space 300.
[0063]
The physical address corresponding to the block number of the user file 220 can be obtained as follows. As shown in FIG. 3, assuming that B is the start address of the file system 200 by physical address, S is the block size in the file system 200, P is the page size in the virtual memory space 300, and M is the page number in the block, a certain block number N Is obtained by the following equation.
A = B + N × S + P × M [Equation 2]
[0064]
By registering the physical address thus obtained in the page table 500 (FIG. 5), the user file 220 on the file system 200 is accessed as data in the virtual memory space 300 without data transfer. be able to.
[0065]
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the memory processing unit 111 and the file processing unit 116 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the file management table 400 and the page table 500 are accessed from both the memory processing unit 111 and the file processing unit 116. The file management table 400 and the page table 500 are held in the non-volatile memory 180 as described above, and the other units are realized as processes in the processor 110.
[0066]
The memory processing unit 111 performs a process of enabling a file on the file system 200 to be accessed as data in the virtual memory space 300, and includes a file designation unit 112, a physical address calculation unit 113, a memory area acquisition unit 114.
[0067]
The file specification unit 112 specifies a file on the file system 200 to be accessed as data. The specified file is searched in the directory area 410 of the file management table 400, and the block numbers shown in the file allocation table 420 are supplied to the physical address calculation unit 113 in order from the first block number 414 (FIG. 4).
[0068]
The physical address calculation unit 113 calculates a physical address on the nonvolatile memory 180 based on the block number on the file system 200 supplied from the file management table 400. The specific calculation formula is as shown in the above formula 2. The physical address calculated by the physical address calculator 113 is supplied to the page table 500 and registered as the physical page address 501 of the corresponding page entry.
[0069]
The memory area acquiring unit 114 acquires a memory area by searching for a free area in the virtual memory space 300. What is acquired here is only a virtual address in the virtual memory space 300, and does not necessarily secure a new physical address in the nonvolatile memory 180. The memory area acquisition unit 114 searches for an unused virtual page address with reference to the free area flag 503 (FIG. 5) of the page table 500, and assigns a physical address to the physical page address 501 of the unused page entry. The page address of the physical address supplied from the calculation unit 113 is registered. As a result, a virtual address is assigned to the physical address.
[0070]
As a result, the specified file can be accessed not only as a file but also as data in the virtual memory space 300 by the virtual address assigned by the memory area acquisition unit 114.
[0071]
After the virtual address is allocated by the memory area acquisition unit 114, the file entry in the directory area 410 (FIG. 4) of the file management table 400 may be deleted by the file specification unit 112. In this case, the area corresponding to the deleted file entry can no longer be accessed as a file, and is exclusively accessed as data in the virtual memory space 300.
[0072]
On the other hand, the filing processing unit 116 performs a process of saving data in the virtual memory space 300 as a file, and includes a memory area specifying unit 117, a block number calculating unit 118, and a file generating unit 119.
[0073]
The memory area specifying unit 117 specifies a virtual address of data (memory area) in the virtual memory space 300 to be accessed as a file. The virtual address of the specified data is searched in the page table 500 (FIG. 5), and the corresponding physical address is supplied to the block number calculation unit 118.
[0074]
The block number calculation unit 118 calculates a block number on the file system 200 based on the physical address on the nonvolatile memory 180 supplied from the page table 500. The specific calculation formula is as shown in the above formula 1. The block number calculated by the block number calculation unit 118 is supplied to the file management table 400 and registered as the block number of the corresponding file.
[0075]
The file generation unit 119 secures a new file entry in the directory area 410 (FIG. 4) of the file management table 400, and registers the block number supplied from the block number calculation unit 118. As a result, a new file is generated. However, the content indicated by the corresponding block number is data that originally existed in the virtual memory space 300, and the physical address in the nonvolatile memory 180 is newly secured. is not.
[0076]
As a result, the designated data can be accessed not only as data in the virtual memory space 300 but also as a file generated by the file generation unit 119.
[0077]
After a file is generated by the file generating unit 119, the page entry in the page table 500 may be deleted by the memory area specifying unit 117. In this case, the area corresponding to the deleted page entry is no longer accessible as data, and is exclusively accessed as a file on the file system 200.
[0078]
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a processing procedure in the memory processing unit 111 according to the embodiment of the present invention. First, when a file on the file system 200 to be accessed as data is specified by the file specifying unit 112, the head block number 414 (FIG. 4) of the specified file is read from the directory area 410 of the file management table 400. (Step S911).
[0079]
When the head block number 414 is read, the physical address calculation unit 113 calculates a physical address on the nonvolatile memory 180 corresponding to the head block number 414 (step S912). The specific calculation formula is as shown in the above formula 2. The calculated physical address is supplied to the page table 500.
[0080]
The memory area acquisition unit 114 acquires a memory area by searching for a free area in the virtual memory space 300 (Step S913). The obtained virtual address of the memory area is supplied to the page table 500.
[0081]
The physical page address of the physical address calculated in step S912 is registered in the page table 500 as the physical page address 501 (FIG. 5) corresponding to the virtual page address of the virtual address of the memory area acquired in step S913.
[0082]
If there is a block that has not been registered in the page table 500 for the specified file (step S915), the block number of the next block in the file allocation table 420 of the file management table 400 (FIG. 4) Is read out (step S911), and the memory conversion process is continued. On the other hand, when registration of all blocks of the specified file in the page table 500 is completed (step S915), the memory conversion process ends.
[0083]
As a result, the specified file can be accessed not only as a file but also as data in the virtual memory space 300 by the virtual address assigned by the memory area acquisition unit 114.
[0084]
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure in the filing processing unit 116 according to the embodiment of this invention. First, a new file entry is secured in the directory area 410 of the file management table 400 by the file generation unit 119 (step S931). At this time, a new file name can be given.
[0085]
When the virtual address of the data in the virtual memory space 300 to be accessed as a file is specified by the memory area specifying unit 117, the head virtual address of the specified data is converted into a physical address by the page table 500 and output. Is performed (step S932).
[0086]
When the converted physical address is output, the block number calculation unit 118 calculates the block number on the file system 200 corresponding to this physical address as “current block number” (step S933). The specific calculation formula is as shown in the above formula 1. The calculated block number is registered in the head block number 414 (FIG. 4) of the directory area 410 of the file management table 400.
[0087]
If the specified data exceeds the next block boundary (step S934), the virtual address at the head of the next block boundary is converted into a physical address by the page table 500 and output (step S935). This physical address is supplied to the block number calculation unit 118, and as a result, the “next block number” on the file system 200 is calculated (step S936).
[0088]
This “next block number” is set to “current block number” in the file allocation table 420 (step S937). For example, in the example of FIG. 4, if “3” of the first block number 414 of “FileA.txt” is “current block number”, the third address (the fourth block from the top) of the file allocation table 420 is assumed. ) Is set to “1” which is the “next block number”. Then, the “next block number” is set as a new “current block number” (step S938), and the process proceeds to the next processing (step S934).
[0089]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S934 that the current block number does not exceed the next block boundary, a value indicating the final value of the file is set in “current block number” in the file allocation table 420 (step S939). For example, if the bit width of each block in the file allocation table 420 is 32 bits, “FFFFFFFF” (hexadecimal notation) can be adopted as the final value.
[0090]
As a result, the designated data can be accessed not only as data in the virtual memory space 300 but also as a file generated by the file generation unit 119.
[0091]
As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, both the main storage area 310 and the file area 320 are held in the non-volatile memory 180, and the contents thereof can be accessed as data in the virtual memory space 300 and the file The file may be accessible as a file on the system 200.
[0092]
Further, various applications can be considered as applications of the embodiment of the present invention. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, two types of page files, a page file A250 and a page file B260, are stored in the file system 200, and different environments are set by switching the page files when the computer system is started. it can.
[0093]
Here, if the page file A 250 is the execution environment of the operating system A and the page file B 260 is the execution environment of the operating system B, switching between the operating system A and the operating system B can be realized without using an external storage device. it can. It is not necessary to transfer the contents of the page file A 250 and the page file B 260 to the memory each time, and the contents can be directly accessed as the main storage area 360 in the virtual memory space 300.
[0094]
The embodiment of the present invention is an example for embodying the present invention, and has a corresponding relationship with the invention specifying items in the claims as described below, but is not limited thereto. Various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[0095]
That is, in claim 1, the file designating unit corresponds to, for example, the file designating unit 112. The physical address calculation means corresponds to, for example, the physical address calculation unit 113. Further, the memory area acquisition unit corresponds to, for example, the memory area acquisition unit 114. The nonvolatile memory corresponds to, for example, the nonvolatile memory 180. The file management table corresponds to, for example, the file management table 400. The address converter corresponds to, for example, the page table 500. The access unit number corresponds to, for example, a block number or a cluster number.
[0096]
Further, in claim 2, the memory area specifying means corresponds to, for example, the memory area specifying section 117.
[0097]
In claim 5, the memory area designating means corresponds to, for example, the memory area designating unit 117. The access unit number calculation means corresponds to, for example, the block number calculation unit 118. The file generation unit corresponds to, for example, the file generation unit 119. The nonvolatile memory corresponds to, for example, the nonvolatile memory 180. The address converter corresponds to, for example, the page table 500. The file management table corresponds to, for example, the file management table 400.
[0098]
In claim 6, the file designating means corresponds to, for example, the file designating unit 112. The access unit number corresponds to, for example, a block number or a cluster number.
[0099]
Further, in claim 9, the nonvolatile memory corresponds to, for example, the nonvolatile memory 180. The processing device corresponds to, for example, the processor 110. The file management table corresponds to, for example, the file management table 400. The address converter corresponds to, for example, the page table 500. The computer system corresponds to, for example, the computer system 100. The file designating unit corresponds to, for example, the file designating unit 112. The physical address calculation means corresponds to, for example, the physical address calculation unit 113. Further, the memory area acquisition unit corresponds to, for example, the memory area acquisition unit 114. The access unit number corresponds to, for example, a block number or a cluster number.
[0100]
Further, in claim 10, the non-volatile memory corresponds to, for example, the non-volatile memory 180. The processing device corresponds to, for example, the processor 110. The file management table corresponds to, for example, the file management table 400. The address converter corresponds to, for example, the page table 500. The computer system corresponds to, for example, the computer system 100. The file specification unit corresponds to, for example, the file specification unit 112. The physical address calculation means corresponds to, for example, the physical address calculation unit 113. Further, the memory area acquisition unit corresponds to, for example, the memory area acquisition unit 114. The access unit number corresponds to, for example, a block number or a cluster number. The plurality of types of page files correspond to, for example, page file A250 and page file B260.
[0101]
Further, in claim 11, the non-volatile memory corresponds to, for example, the non-volatile memory 180. The processing device corresponds to, for example, the processor 110. The file management table corresponds to, for example, the file management table 400. The address converter corresponds to, for example, the page table 500. The computer system corresponds to, for example, the computer system 100.
The memory area designating unit corresponds to, for example, the memory area designating unit 114. The access unit number calculation means corresponds to, for example, the block number calculation unit 118. The file generation unit corresponds to, for example, the file generation unit 119. The access unit number corresponds to, for example, a block number.
[0102]
Further, the procedure of designating a file existing in the nonvolatile memory and reading the access unit number of the file from the file management table in claim 12 or 14 corresponds to, for example, step S911. The procedure for calculating the physical address on the nonvolatile memory based on the access unit number corresponds to, for example, step S912. The procedure for acquiring the memory area in the virtual address space corresponds to, for example, step S913. The procedure of registering the physical address in the address converter so as to correspond to the acquired virtual address of the memory area corresponds to, for example, step S914.
[0103]
A procedure for generating a file entry on a file management table for managing files on a nonvolatile memory according to claim 13 or 15 corresponds to, for example, step S931. The procedure of specifying a memory area on the non-volatile memory by a virtual address and obtaining a corresponding physical address from the address converter corresponds to, for example, step S932. The procedure for calculating the access unit number on the nonvolatile memory based on the physical address corresponds to, for example, step S933. The procedure for registering the access unit number in the file entry corresponds to, for example, step S937 or S939.
[0104]
Note that the computer system according to the embodiment of the present invention is an example of application of the present invention, and the present invention relates to an imaging device, a personal computer, a PDA, a DVD player, a set-top box, a router, a robot, a home server, a portable terminal, and a game. Machine, network terminal, etc.
[0105]
Further, the processing procedure described in the embodiment of the present invention may be regarded as a method having these series of procedures, and a program for causing a computer to execute these series of procedures or a recording medium storing the program It may be considered as.
[0106]
【The invention's effect】
As apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, an effect is provided that a computer system that can access the same area of the nonvolatile memory as both the main storage area and the file area is provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall configuration of a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a relationship between a virtual memory space 300 and a file system 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a mechanism for managing the file system 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a file management table 400 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a page table 500 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship between data 311 on a virtual memory space 300 and a data file 211 on a file system 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing boundary conditions when data 312 in the virtual memory space 300 is stored as a file in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of a memory processing unit 111 and a file processing unit 116 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure in the memory conversion processing unit 111 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure in the filing processing unit according to the embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example in which a plurality of execution environments are stored in a file system 200 as an application of the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 computer system
110 processor
111 Memory conversion processing unit
112 File specification section
113 Physical Address Calculation Unit
114 Memory area acquisition unit
116 File Processing Unit
117 Memory area specification section
118 Block number calculation unit
119 File Generation Unit
120 instruction cache
121 Command input line
122 Instruction address line
130 Instruction memory management unit
136 instruction address line
140 data cache
141 data input / output line
142 data address line
150 Data memory management unit
156 data address line
160 bus controller
162 Command input line
164 data input line
170 memory bus
180 Non-volatile memory
200 file system
300 virtual memory space
310 Main storage area
320 File area
360 main storage area
400 File management table
420 File Allocation Table
500 page table

Claims (15)

File designating means for designating a file existing on the nonvolatile memory and reading an access unit number of the file from a file management table;
Physical address calculating means for calculating a physical address on the nonvolatile memory based on the access unit number;
A processing apparatus comprising: a memory area acquiring unit that acquires a memory area in a virtual address space and registers the memory area in an address converter so that the physical address corresponds to a virtual address of the memory area. Further comprising a memory area specifying means for specifying a memory area on the non-volatile memory by a virtual address and obtaining a corresponding physical address from the address converter,
2. The processing device according to claim 1, wherein the non-volatile memory is accessed by a physical address read by the memory area specifying unit. 3. The processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the non-volatile memory is accessed by an access unit number read by the file designating unit. 2. The processing device according to claim 1, wherein the file specification unit deletes a file entry of the specified file from the file management table. Memory area specifying means for specifying a memory area on the non-volatile memory by a virtual address and obtaining a corresponding physical address from the address converter;
Access unit number calculating means for calculating an access unit number on the nonvolatile memory based on the physical address;
A processing apparatus comprising: a file generation unit that generates a file entry in a file management table and registers the access unit number in the file entry. Further comprising a file designation unit for designating a file on the nonvolatile memory and reading an access unit number of the file from the file management table,
6. The processing device according to claim 5, wherein the non-volatile memory is accessed by an access unit number read by the file designating unit. 7. The processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the non-volatile memory is accessed by a physical address read by the memory area specifying unit. 6. The processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the memory area designating unit registers the designated virtual address in the address translator such that the designated virtual address becomes unused. A non-volatile memory, a processing device using the non-volatile memory as a main storage area and a file area, a file management table for managing files on the non-volatile memory, and converting a virtual address in the processing device into a physical address on the non-volatile memory A computer system comprising:
The processing device includes:
File designating means for designating a file existing on the nonvolatile memory and reading an access unit number of the file from the file management table;
Physical address calculating means for calculating a physical address on the nonvolatile memory based on the access unit number;
A computer system comprising: a memory area acquisition unit that acquires a memory area in a virtual address space and registers the memory area in the address converter so that the physical address corresponds to the virtual address of the memory area. A non-volatile memory, a processing device using the non-volatile memory as a main storage area and a file area, a file management table for managing files on the non-volatile memory, and converting a virtual address in the processing device into a physical address on the non-volatile memory A computer system comprising:
The nonvolatile memory holds a plurality of types of page files,
The processing device includes:
File specifying means for selecting and specifying a page file to be used as a main storage area from the plurality of types of page files, and reading an access unit number of the specified page file from the file management table;
Physical address calculating means for calculating a physical address on the nonvolatile memory based on the access unit number;
A computer system comprising: a memory area acquisition unit that acquires a memory area in a virtual address space and registers the memory area in the address converter so that the physical address corresponds to the virtual address of the memory area. A non-volatile memory, a processing device using the non-volatile memory as a main storage area and a file area, a file management table for managing files on the non-volatile memory, and converting a virtual address in the processing device into a physical address on the non-volatile memory A computer system comprising:
The processing device includes:
A memory area specifying means for specifying a memory area on the non-volatile memory by a virtual address and obtaining a corresponding physical address from the address converter;
Access unit number calculating means for calculating an access unit number on the nonvolatile memory based on the physical address;
A computer system comprising: a file generation unit that generates a file entry in the file management table and registers the access unit number in the file entry. Reading a file access unit number from the file management table by specifying a file existing on the nonvolatile memory;
Calculating a physical address on the nonvolatile memory based on the access unit number;
Obtaining a memory area in the virtual address space;
Registering the physical address in the address converter so as to correspond to the virtual address of the acquired memory area. A procedure for generating a file entry on a file management table for managing files on the nonvolatile memory;
A procedure of specifying a memory area on the nonvolatile memory by a virtual address and obtaining a corresponding physical address from an address converter,
Calculating an access unit number on the nonvolatile memory based on the physical address;
Registering the access unit number in the file entry. Reading a file access unit number from the file management table by specifying a file existing on the nonvolatile memory;
Calculating a physical address on the nonvolatile memory based on the access unit number;
Obtaining a memory area in the virtual address space;
Registering the acquired physical address of the memory area in the address translator so that the physical address corresponds to the virtual address of the acquired memory area. A procedure for generating a file entry on a file management table for managing files on the nonvolatile memory;
A procedure of specifying a memory area on the nonvolatile memory by a virtual address and obtaining a corresponding physical address from an address converter,
Calculating an access unit number on the nonvolatile memory based on the physical address;
Registering the access unit number in the file entry.

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