Organizing information stored in non-volatile re-programmable semiconductor memories

Abstract

A plurality of partitions may be formed in a non-volatile re-programmable memory which may act as the primary non-volatile file system for a processor-based system. The memory may store, for example, the basic input/output system for the processor-based system together with its operating system. An address partition may include information about the location of the other partitions, in association with information about the type of information stored in each partition.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of organizing stored information on a non-volatile, re-programmable semiconductor memory comprising: 
 partitioning said memory into a plurality of partitions, each having a defined address; and    storing the defined address for one partition in another partition.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further including storing information about the number of partitions.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further including storing a boot loader in one of said partitions.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further including storing a file system in one of said partitions.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further including storing a kernel for an operating system in one of said partitions.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further including storing information in association with said addresses about whether or not an integrity check needs to be done on the data stored at the associated address.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further including storing, in association with the address of a partition, information about the type of information stored in the partition.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further including storing information about whether or not the information stored at a given partition is a boot loader, a kernel or a file system.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  including storing information about the load address for said information in association with said address.  
     
     
         10 . A non-volatile, re-programmable semiconductor memory comprising: 
 a plurality of addressable partitions, including a partition storing an operating system; and    a storage location storing an address for one of said partitions in association with information about the information stored in said partition.    
     
     
         11 . The memory of  claim 10  wherein said memory is a FLASH memory.  
     
     
         12 . The memory of  claim 10  wherein one of said partitions stores a basic input/output system.  
     
     
         13 . The memory of  claim 10  wherein one of said partitions stores a file system.  
     
     
         14 . The memory of  claim 10  wherein one of said partitions stores a kernel for an operating system.  
     
     
         15 . The memory of  claim 10  wherein one of said partitions stores a boot loader.  
     
     
         16 . A method of initializing a processor-based system comprising: 
 validating information stored in a non-volatile, re-programmable semiconductor memory; and    using a allocation table stored in said memory to find an operating system stored in said memory;    loading said operating system; and    executing said operating system.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further including selecting a boot loader to load said operating system.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  including using said allocation table to locate said boot loader.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  including performing initialization and the power on self test before validating information stored in said memory.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  including validating information stored in said memory using a cyclic recovery check software stored in said memory.  
     
     
         21 . An article comprising a medium storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to: 
 validate information stored in a non-volatile, re-programmable semiconductor memory;    use an allocation table to find an operating system stored in said memory;    load said operating system; and    execute said operating system.    
     
     
         22 . The article of  claim 21  further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to select a boot loader to load said operating system.  
     
     
         23 . The article of  claim 22  further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to use said allocation table to locate said boot loader.  
     
     
         24 . The article of  claim 21  further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to perform initialization and the power on self test before validating information stored in said memory.  
     
     
         25 . The article of  claim 21  further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to validate information in said memory using a cyclic recovery check software stored in said memory.  
     
     
         26 . A processor-based system comprising: 
 a processor;    a volatile memory coupled to said processor; and    a re-programmable, non-volatile semiconductor memory coupled to said processor, said semiconductor memory including a plurality of partitions, one of said partitions storing an operating system and another of said partitions storing the addresses of the other partitions in association with information about what is stored in each of said partitions.    
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26  wherein said semiconductor memory is a FLASH memory.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 26  wherein one of said partitions stores a basic input/output system.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 26  wherein one of said partitions stores a file system.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 26  wherein one of said partitions stores a boot loader.