Thomson Licensing

Jens Peter Wittenburg

Thomas Brune

Sebastien Lasserre

Axel Kochale

Heinz-Werner Keesen

Klaus Gaedke

Nicolas Le Scouarnec

Christophe Diot

Jean C Bolot

Michael Drexler

Martin May

Brian Charles Eriksson

Herbert Schütze

Mark Crovella

Meinolf Bilawat

In one embodiment, it is proposed a method for storing input data on a set of DNA strands, said input data being represented in a numeral system. This method is remarkable in that it comprises: formatting said input data into a set of blocks of data, each block of data having a size inferior to a size of one DNA strand; applying a first encoding with an erasure code on said set of blocks of data, defining a first set of modified blocks of data, each modified block of data having a size inferior to a size of one DNA strand; applying a second encoding using an error correcting code on each modified block of data of said first set, defining a second set of modified blocks of data, each modified block having a size inferior to a size of one DNA strand; encoding each modified block of data of said second set into a nucleotides block sequence; generating a set of DNA strands, each DNA strand comprising a nucleotides block sequence obtained through said encoding.

Methods for storing and reading digital data on a set of DNA strands

For recording or replaying in real-time digital HDTV signals very fast memories are required. For storage of streaming HD video data NAND flash memory based systems can be used. However, NAND flash memories have a slow write access, and they have unmasked production defects. Write or read operations can be carried out on complete physical data blocks only, and defect data blocks must not be used by the file system. Logical file system blocks are used which are larger than the physical data blocks. According to the invention the error reporting mechanism of the NAND flash memories is exploited. The video data is not only written to the non-volatile flash memories, but is also written to corresponding buffer slots (LFSB) of a volatile SRAM or DRAM memory operating in parallel. The video data are kept in the volatile memory until the flash memory holding the respective data has reported that its program or write operation succeeded. Once this has taken place, the data within the volatile memory can be overwritten in order to save memory capacity. If the flash memory has reported an error, the respective block (FSBD) of data is marked bad and will not be overwritten until the end of the entire recorded take has been reached. At this time, the marked video data from the volatile memory are copied to spare flash-blocks within the flash memories.

Method and system for storing logical data blocks into flash-blocks in multiple non-volatile memories which are connected to at least one common data I/O bus

For recording or replaying in real-time digital high bandwidth video signals, e.g. HDTV, HD progressive or HD film capture signals, very fast memories are required. For storage of streaming HD video data NAND FLASH memory based systems could be used. Flash memory devices are physically accessed in a page oriented mode. According to the invention, the input data are written in a multiplexed fashion into a matrix of multiple flash devices. A list processing is performed that is as simple and fast as possible, and defect pages of flash blocks of single flash devices are addressed within the matrix architecture. When writing in a sequential manner, the data content for the current flash device page of all flash devices of the matrix is copied to a corresponding storage area in an additional memory buffer. After the current series of pages has been written without error into the flash devices, the corresponding storage area in an additional memory buffer is enabled for overwriting with following page data. In case an error occurred in the current page in one or more flash devices, the content of these current pages is kept in the additional memory buffer.

Method and apparatus for recording high-speed input data into a matrix of memory devices

When recording uncompressed video and/or audio data using a digital video recorder, there is the need for a robust memory arrangement based on non-volatile, integrated circuits which is able to be fitted directly on the video camera without a long external cable connection and which is also able to be used for shots under difficult conditions, particularly action shots. The inventive memory arrangement involves the use of a number of non-volatile memory chips which are connected together with a favorable level of circuit complexity. To be able to cope with the high data rate for the incoming video and/or audio data, a plurality of parallel supply buses are provided. Each supply bus has an associated number of memory chips. In this case, the memory word length of the memory chips is greater than the bus width of a data/address bus. A supply bus with high-quality multiplexing has a respective associated number of demultiplexer/driver circuits which match the bus width of the supply bus to the memory word length of the memory chips. There are respectively as many downstream memory chips per demultiplexer/driver circuit as prescribed by a value X, the value X being limited by the memory technology used, namely by the maximum number of circuits which can be connected, also called the 'fan-out' value. The memory chips used are preferably NAND Flash EPROM memory chips.

Memory arrangement, particularly for the non-volatile storage of uncompressed video and/or audio data

Today the storage of audiovisual (AV) data on storage media employs standardized coding schemes, e.g. MPEG-2. End user devices for AV presentation, like disc players, contain dedicated decoders implemented in hardware, which are able to decode data streams complying with the respective standard. The efficiency of this decoding methodology relies on the standardization of appropriate coding schemes. Proprietary coding schemes may be more efficient by being adapted to the content, or may be used for content protection or optional features. Using reconfigurable decoder hardware, storing the configuration data for the actual decoder on the same storage medium as the AV data, and downloading the data to configure the player can be used to implement proprietary coding schemes. Such schemes require appropriate player hardware, suitable to execute a downloaded decoder under real-time conditions, and a standardized format to store the decoder configuration data.

Method for decoding data received from a data source using hardware configuration data received from the same data source

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Isernhagen, Germany

Jens Peter Wittenburg