Patent ID: 7310347

Claim:
A method of storing N bits of data, comprising the steps of: (a) providing ┌N/M┐ cells; and (b) programming each cell with up to M of the bits according to a valid, nonserial bit ordering that satisfies a criterion selected from the group consisting of: (i) a number of threshold voltage comparisons for sequentially and statically reading said M bits exceeds a minimum said number of threshold voltage comparisons by at most 1, (ii) a maximum number of threshold voltage comparisons for statically reading any one of said M bits is minimized, (iii) a minimum number of threshold voltage comparisons for statically reading any one of said M bits is minimized, (iv) a maximum number of threshold voltage comparisons for statically reading any one of said M bits exceeds a minimum number of threshold voltage comparisons for statically reading any one of said M bits by at most 1, (v) a number of threshold voltage comparisons for sequentially and dynamically reading said M bits exceeds a minimum said number of threshold voltage comparisons by at most 1, (vi) a maximum number of threshold voltage comparisons for dynamically reading any one of said M bits is minimized, (vii) a minimum number of threshold voltage comparisons for dynamically reading any one of said M bits is minimized, and (viii) a maximum number of threshold voltage comparisons for dynamically reading any one of said M bits exceeds a minimum number of threshold voltage comparisons for dynamically reading any one of said M bits by at most 1; wherein M is at least 3.