Tom's Hardware > News > Components > Memory > Apple Files Dynamic Cell Memory Patent

Apple Files Dynamic Cell Memory Patent

10:00 PM - August 30, 2011 by Douglas Perry - source: USPTO

Apple filed a patent application that describes an approach to dynamically adjust the number of bits stored in a non-volatile NAND flash memory cell.

According to Apple, single-level cell (SLC) as well as multi-level cell (MLC) programming operations could be used to be able to allocate a different number of bits to cells.

The purpose of the invention is to enable a system to balance its mass storage for performance, reliability and storage capacity needs. Apple says that the technology would allow for a portion of a flash memory chip to be used as CLC and another as MLC chip. SLC flash memory tends to provide greater reliability and performance, while MLC offers greater capacity.

From the patent: "The host can further determine whether to access the memory location as a single-level cell location or multi-level cell location. For example, the host can make this determination based on the desired storage reliability, storage performance, or storage speed. Thus, the host can use any suitable number of bits per cell when accessing the memory location regardless or independently of the number of bits per cell previously used for the same memory location. In other words, after each erase cycle on the memory location, the host can newly assign the memory location as an SLC or MLC memory location based on current needs or preferences."

The patent was already filed by Apple on February 25, 2010, but only recently released by the US Patent and Trademark Office. The idea is not entirely new and closely resembles a paper presented by Samsung at the 2009 Usenix conference. Back then, Samsung engineers described their FlexFS as a flexible flash file system for MLC NAND flash memory, which would "takes advantage of the dynamic reconfiguration utility of MLC flash memory". As Apple's idea, FlexFS divides MLC flash memory into SLC and MLC regions -- and is able to change the size of those regions to adjust for different requirements over time.

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huzaifa 08/31/2011 4:15 AM

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mcd023 08/31/2011 4:15 AM

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so Samsung does the research and Apple patents? ouch.

deadlockedworld 08/31/2011 4:17 AM

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Apple v. Samsung lawsuit round II.

legacy7955 08/31/2011 4:21 AM

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Tom's has used the word "patent" so many times the NSA Echelon project is going to start a corporate espionage campaign against them!

AbdullahG 08/31/2011 4:29 AM

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So...many...PATENTS!

nukemaster 08/31/2011 5:05 AM

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This is nothing. Apple patented the Wiimote as well. Its funny....

iam2thecrowe 08/31/2011 5:22 AM

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apple can go to hell

acadia11 08/31/2011 5:26 AM

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-1

Steve, Steve, when they open the good book are you going to be straightened out?

spentshells 08/31/2011 5:52 AM

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I have patented the word patent as the patent on this word in reference to suing someone over something you have created or own the rights to has expired Apple google and Microsoft will now owe me 10% of all settlements involving the word patent and all further lawsuits filed using said word are now deferred until further notice.

Blessedman 08/31/2011 6:08 AM

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This sounds like the realm of rambus, what out apple you may have met your match!

legacy7955 08/31/2011 6:13 AM

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spentshells :
I have patented the word patent as the patent on this word in reference to suing someone over something you have created or own the rights to has expired Apple google and Microsoft will now owe me 10% of all settlements involving the word patent and all further lawsuits filed using said word are now deferred until further notice.

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!! This quote should be framed and put on the wall at Apple HQ.

chickenhoagie 08/31/2011 6:30 AM

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I remember my first patent. Along with my first beer..

Actually no, that whole night was a blur..

RazorBurn 08/31/2011 7:01 AM

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I patented the process of ventilation consists of two phases, inspiration and expiration. During inspiration the diaphragm and the external intercostal muscles contract. The diaphragm moves downward increasing the volume of the thoracic (chest) cavity, and the external intercostal muscles pull the ribs up and outward, expanding the rib cage, further increasing this chest volume. or commonly called "Breathing"..

All Humans should pay me the royalty fee of 1 cent per inhale and exhale..

doron 08/31/2011 7:45 AM

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someone delete jrabbit2 horrible post.

back_by_demand 08/31/2011 8:09 AM

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gmp23 08/31/2011 8:28 AM

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This patent war has officially entered into the realm of absurdity. Clearly i'm in the wrong business. Whoever works at the patent office is swimming in money right now. I think it's time I re-evaluate my career path.

martel80 08/31/2011 10:12 AM

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Would not Samsung's paper be the evidence of prior art and thus invalidate the patent when presented in the court?

saturnus 08/31/2011 12:54 PM

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I'm almost completely sure SanDisk/Tobisha patented this in 1989 when they developed and patented the MLC NAND technology, as a development on the previous Tobisha patent on SLC NAND technology.

zybch 08/31/2011 1:34 PM

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martel80 :
Would not Samsung's paper be the evidence of prior art and thus invalidate the patent when presented in the court?

One would hope so, but the US patent office have a pretty bad record regarding something like this that seems blindingly obvious to you and me.

reggieray 08/31/2011 2:36 PM

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And they (government) wonder why there are hardly ever any new startup companies. They are either bought out or crushed to death by lawsuits from the established companies.

drwho1 08/31/2011 3:17 PM

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"The idea is not entirely new and closely resembles a paper presented by Samsung at the 2009 Usenix conference."

Why I'm NOT surprised?
Apple "new inventions" are about taking somebody else idea and edit their paper "a little bit" to make it appear as "new".
Shame on you Apple.

batkinson001 08/31/2011 4:43 PM

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Apple hasn't invented anything original since the first Ipod.

Anonymous 08/31/2011 4:58 PM

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@batkinson001

Apple's iPod used an original database file system to store and retrieve songs, ala creative labs patent......

batkinson001 08/31/2011 5:11 PM

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absurdlyOriginal :
@batkinson001Apple's iPod used an original database file system to store and retrieve songs, ala creative labs patent......

so not even the ipod was original... and why is your post all greyed out.... hard to read.

Does Apple even license other peoples stuff then rework it into their products or are they just corporate thieves?

rockola 08/31/2011 5:14 PM

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"Good artists copy. Great artists steal. Greedy non-artists steal patents."

weaselsmasher 08/31/2011 8:37 PM

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-1

Have ANY of you read the patents, much less understood them, and have a background in intellectual property law?

No?

Didn't think so.

Then you aren't qualified to have an opinion. But you ARE qualified to be a judge in East Texas.

user_ace 08/31/2011 9:44 PM

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What is a Unisex conference?

tacoslave 08/31/2011 11:45 PM

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up next apple will sue samsung and sony for making square tv's

Anonymous 09/01/2011 8:32 AM

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I'm gonna pattent the way I pee...so no one else does it like me ...hmmm I could get rich