Patent ID: 8422305

Claim:
A method of programming a nonvolatile memory device, the method comprising: inputting program data to page buffers; performing a program operation and a program verification operation until threshold voltages of memory cells included in a selected page reach a target level according to the program data; performing an over-program verification operation to determine over-programmed memory cells in the memory cells, wherein the over-program verification operation is performed by supplying an over-program verification voltage to a selected word line associated with the selected page and a pass voltage to unselected word lines associated with unselected pages; making a determination of whether error checking and correction (ECC) processing for the over-programmed memory cells is feasible in response to result of the over-program verification operation; selecting a next page if the error checking and correction (ECC) processing is not feasible as a result of the determination; and performing the program operation and the program verification operation until threshold voltages of memory cells included in the selected next page reach a target level.