Patent ID: 7564731

Claim:
A method of preserving data stored in a memory element having a plurality of variable resistance memory cells, said method comprising: addressing a first individual memory cell of said plurality of variable resistance memory cells; waiting for a first period of time since said first individual memory cell was addressed; determining whether said first individual memory cell needs to be refreshed; if said first individual memory cell needs to be refreshed, determining whether system resources are available to refresh said first individual memory cell; if said first individual memory cell needs to be refreshed and if said system resources are not available, monitoring whether said system resources become available to refresh said first individual memory cell within a second period of time since said first individual memory cell was addressed; if said first individual memory cell needs to be refreshed and if said system resources do not become available within said second period of time, forcing said resources to be relinquished, such that said resources become available to refresh said first individual memory cell; and if said first individual memory cell needs to be refreshed, refreshing said first individual memory cell using said available system resources.