Patent ID: 8078793
Filing Date: 2011-12-13
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for storing data on a non-volatile memory device configured for storing data bits thereon, the data bits being in either an erased state following an erase operation or an updated state following a write operation, which is an inverse of the erased state, the method comprising performing computer-implemented operations for: receiving a request to update a variable stored at a current location in the non-volatile memory device as a plurality of data bits; in response to the request, determining whether the variable is capable of being updated by only inverting a state of one or more data bits used to store the variable at the current location in the non-volatile memory device from the erased state to the updated state; in response to determining that the variable is capable of being updated by only inverting the state of one or more data bits used to store the variable at the current location in the non-volatile memory device from the erased state to the updated state, updating the variable stored in the non-volatile memory device to the updated state by only inverting the state of one or more data bits used to store the variable at the current location in the non-volatile memory device from the erased state to the updated state; and in response to determining that the variable is not capable of being updated by only inverting the state of one or more data bits used to store the variable at the current location in the non-volatile memory device from the erased state to the updated state, then: