Patent ID: 8228728

Claim:
A method comprising: identifying one or more first storage elements in communication with a first word line, each of the one or more first storage elements configured to store a first bit, a second bit, and a third bit; identifying one or more second storage elements in communication with a second word line, each of the one or more second storage elements configured to store a first bit, a second bit and a third bit; programming one or more pages associated with the first bit of the one or more first storage elements and the first bit of the one or more second storage elements; programming one or more pages associated with the second bit of the one or more first storage elements and the second bit of the one or more second storage elements; and programming one or more pages associated with the third bit of the one or more first storage elements and the third bit of the one or more second storage elements after programming the one or more pages associated with the first bits and the second bits of the one or more first storage elements and the second storage elements.