And they did all that, just so they could use flash memory no one(INTEL) else wanted.

Because, prior to e.Digital, the memory had to be clean, or no bad cells within arrays(erase blocks) in order to be useful.

Prior to utilizing traditional OS considerations for both data management and bad cell management.....what was used was called contiguous storage, with that, cells had to be perfect. For this storage consideration, data segments were placed physically next to each other and the only relationship to hold the data together for a read back, was the fact that they were physically connected. There was no directive structure tying data together.

When it was considered to move beyond the limited and non divers use of contiguous storage....and get away from physical contact issues, the use of traditional OS methods where then implemented....and that amounted to the round peg and square hole problem.

The most significant prior art in getting away from contiguous storage for Norris/Daberko to overcome in patenting 445 as an Operting system, was BAN(M-Systems now SNDK), which implemented some what traditional OS methods to deal with cell problems and data adressing. This method eventurally became a standard as a layer under traditional OS's and is known as FTL, or flash translation layer for NOR flash....later they came up with NFTL for NAND flash.

e.Digital hit it dead on for what they came up with and patented it all. It can be a stand alone issue, or it can be a layer under traditional OS's for NAND or NOR.

anyway...just to pass the time...lol
doni