JP2001154906A - Memory controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a memory controller capable of prolonging the service life of a memory having the service life. SOLUTION: Access to a PC card type memory 23 is performed after the updating of data in an image memory 18 is established. Thus, the number of times of the access (the number of times of write operations) to the PC card type memory 23 is reduced. Thus, the service life of the PC card type memory 23 is prolonged.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a memory control device provided in, for example, a facsimile machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a facsimile apparatus, even if the power of the apparatus is cut off due to a power failure or the like, the received image data is backed up so as not to be lost. A configuration in which the data is stored in a memory is mainly used. Further, data dependent on the user, such as abbreviated numbers and caller information, is stored in a non-volatile memory,
A configuration in which the data is stored in a RAM (Static RAM) is mainly used.

[0003]

However, with the downsizing of the facsimile apparatus itself, the backup power supply itself for backing up the image memory is also being downsized. Therefore, the received image data stored in the image memory is only backed up for a predetermined time. In other words, the backup time of the received image data depends on the capacity of the backup power supply.

On the other hand, with the recent technological progress, a large-capacity nonvolatile memory, for example, a flash memory (EEPRO)
M) is being offered at low cost. Moreover, the card-type memory is excellent in portability, so that the card-type memory is rapidly spreading particularly in fields such as notebook computers and digital cameras.

[0005] However, some nonvolatile memories, such as flash memories, have a long life. For this reason, even if the data write operation is performed more than a predetermined number of times (for example, about 200,000 times) in a memory having a lifetime, the data write operation cannot be performed any more.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a memory control device capable of extending the life of a long-lived memory.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a first memory having a lifetime, a second memory having no lifetime, and data are stored in the first memory. In a case where the data is stored in the second memory, control means is provided for storing the data stored in the second memory in the first memory after storing the data in the second memory.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the memory control device according to the first aspect, after the data stored in the second memory is determined, the control means stores the data stored in the second memory in the second memory. 1 is stored in the memory.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the memory control device according to the first or second aspect, when the data is stored in the first memory, the control means updates the data in the second memory. The data stored in the second memory is stored in the first memory on the basis of the flag for managing.

In the embodiments of the invention described below, the “memory control device” described in the claims or the means for solving the problems corresponds to the facsimile device 1, and the “first memory” similarly PC card type memory 23
Similarly, the “second memory” corresponds to the image memory 18, and the “control unit” also includes the MPU 11, the ROM 12,
And the RAM 13.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which a memory control device according to the present invention is embodied in a facsimile machine will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a facsimile machine 1
Are MPU 11, ROM 12, RAM 13, reading unit 1
4, recording unit 15, operation unit 16, display unit 17, image memory 18, codec 19, modem 20, NCU 21, PC
Card interface 22, PC card type memory 2
3. It comprises an option board slot section 24, and the sections 11 to 22, 24 are connected to each other via a bus 25.

The MPU 11 controls each part of the facsimile machine 1. The ROM 12 stores a program for controlling the facsimile machine 1. RAM 13
Is composed of a non-volatile memory (for example, an SRAM), and temporarily stores various information related to transmission and reception of the facsimile apparatus 1.

The reading unit 14 reads image data on a document and outputs black and white binary image data. The recording unit 15 is formed of an electrophotographic printer, and records received image data or image data of a document read by the reading unit 14 on recording paper in a recording operation or a copying operation of received image data.

The operation unit 16 includes a numeric keypad (including * and # keys) 16a for inputting a telephone number, an abbreviated key 16b for registering an abbreviated number or transmitting from an abbreviated number, a previously registered telephone number or FAX number. One-touch key 16c for designating a one-touch operation, a start key 16d for starting a document reading operation, and a "communication (FA)
X) Communication for setting "operation" or "copy" operation /
Various operation keys such as a copy key 16e are provided. LC
A display unit 17 including D and the like displays various information such as an operation state of the facsimile machine 1.

The image memory 18 is a volatile memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic RAM) or an SDRAM (Synchr
onous DRAM) and the received image data and reading unit 1
4 and binarized, and the codec 19
The image data encoded according to the method is temporarily stored. Further, the image memory 18 has a flag 18a for managing whether or not data has been updated in sector units.

The codec 19 encodes the image data read by the reading unit 14 in accordance with the MH, MR, MMR system or the like for transmission. The codec 19 decodes the received image data.

The modem 20 conforms to ITU-T Recommendation T.30. Facsimile transmission control procedure according to V.30 and V.30. 17, V. 2
7ter, V.A. Modulation and demodulation of transmission / reception data according to 29 or the like are performed. The NCU 21 has functions of closing and opening the telephone line L, detecting transmission and reception of a dial signal corresponding to the fax number of the other party, and the like.

The PC card interface 22 is
The PC card type memory 23 is accessed via the PC card adapter 22a based on the control signal from the PU 11. The PC card type memory 23 is “PC Card Standard”
, And is constituted by, for example, a flash memory (EEPROM). And the PC card type memory 23
Data related to transmission and reception, such as a communication log and transmission / reception image data, and user-dependent data such as abbreviated numbers and transmission source information are stored.

The option board slot section 24 is provided with an option board for connecting to a communication network. When the option board is provided, communication can be performed with another communication device, for example, a personal computer or the like via a communication network.

Next, the operation when accessing the PC card type memory 23 in conjunction with the operation in the facsimile machine 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This operation is executed under the control of the MPU 11 based on a program stored in the ROM 12. Hereinafter, the operation of the facsimile machine 1 is the same.

As shown in FIG. 2, in step S1, a directory entry (file information) is written to the image memory 18. Specific directory entries include a file name, an extension, an attribute, an update date, a leading cluster number, a file size, and the like. When the file is newly created, since the file size is unknown, “0” is written as the file size.

In step S2, data for one cluster is written to the image memory 18. Step S3
In FAT (File Allocatio) of the image memory 18,
n Table) is updated.

In step S4, it is determined whether or not writing of all data has been completed. Then, when writing of all data is completed, step S
Go to 5. On the other hand, if all data has not been written, the process returns to step S2. That is, in steps S2 to S4, all data are stored in the image memory 1
FAT is updated every time data of one cluster is written to the image memory 18 until the FAT is written to the FAT 8.

In step S5, the directory entry (file information) is updated and the
Will be overwritten. Specifically, the determined file size is updated.

In step S6, the image memory 18
Is written into the PC card type memory 23. If the file is not newly created but data is updated at this time, the data stored in the image memory 18 is written to the PC card type memory 23 based on the flag 18a. That is, the image memory 18 updated in units of sectors based on the flag 18a.
Is written in the PC card type memory 23. For this reason, the number of times of writing from the image memory 18 to the PC card type memory 23 is reduced.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following operations and effects can be obtained. (1) The access to the PC card type memory 23 is performed after the update of the data in the image memory 18 is determined. Therefore, the number of accesses to the PC card type memory 23 (the number of write operations) is reduced. Therefore, it is possible to extend the life of the PC card type memory 23 having a long life.

(2) Moreover, even after the data is written from the image memory 18 to the PC card type memory 23, the data remains in the image memory 18 in a state of being stored. Therefore, even if the life of the PC card type memory 23 has expired, data can be written to the new PC card type memory 23 by replacing it with a new PC card type memory 23.

(3) In addition, when a plurality of facsimile machines 1 are installed in the same department in a large company or the like, first,
Registration of setting items (for example, user-dependent data such as abbreviated numbers and transmission source information) of the first facsimile machine 1 is performed. Then, the data of the setting item is, for example,
Write to the card type memory 23. Thereafter, by using the PC card type memory 23 in which the setting items are written, the setting items of the other facsimile apparatuses 1 can be easily registered.

The above embodiment can be modified and embodied as follows. The image memory 18 may be an image memory 18 connected to a backup power supply.

The image memory 18 has a DDR (Doub
le Data Rate) SDRAM may be used. .PC card type memory 2 composed of flash memory
Instead of 3, a portable recording medium such as an IC card equipped with a memory (for example, a nonvolatile memory) may be used.

Further, technical ideas other than the claims grasped from the above embodiments and the like will be described below together with their effects. [1] a first memory having a limited number of data write operations, a second memory having an unlimited number of data write operations,
When storing data in the first memory, the control unit stores the data in the second memory and then stores the data stored in the second memory in the first memory.

With this configuration, the life of the first memory, which is limited in the number of times of writing data, can be extended. [2] The memory control device according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the data is file management information.

With this configuration, the number of accesses to the file management information is reduced, so that the life of the first memory can be extended.

[0035]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects. According to the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3, it is possible to extend the life of the first memory having a long life.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation when accessing a PC card type memory.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... facsimile machine as memory control device, 11 ...
MPU constituting the control means, 12 ROM constituting the control means, 13 RAM constituting the control means, 18 second
Image memory as memory, 18a... Flag, 23... PC card type memory as first memory.

Claims (3)

[Claims] When storing data in a first memory having a lifetime, a second memory having no lifetime, and data in a first memory, the data is stored in a second memory and then stored in a second memory. Control means for storing the data stored in the first memory. 2. The memory control device according to claim 1, wherein the control means stores the data stored in the second memory in the first memory after the data stored in the second memory is determined. apparatus. 3. The memory control device according to claim 1, wherein the control means, when storing the data in the first memory, is based on a flag for managing the update of the data in the second memory. And a memory control device for storing data stored in the second memory in the first memory.