Patent ID: 7616506

Claim:
A non-volatile memory system, comprising: a first non-volatile storage element; a second non-volatile storage element adjacent to said first non-volatile storage element; a bit line in communication with said first non-volatile storage element and said second non-volatile storage element; a set of data latches associated with said bit line; and managing circuitry in communication with said first non-volatile storage element, said second non-volatile storage element, said bit line and said set of data latches, said managing circuitry stores data from said second non-volatile storage element and a first indication in said set of data latches in response to a request to read said first non-volatile storage element, said managing circuitry performs a plurality of sense operations for a particular state to read said first non-volatile storage element, said managing circuitry replaces said data in said set of data latches with predetermined data for said particular state if said first non-volatile storage element is conductive during a particular one of said sense operations that corresponds to said data currently stored in said set of data latches and if said first indication is present in said set of data latches, said managing circuitry replaces said first indication with a second indication that said predetermined data is from said first non-volatile storage element if said data from said second non-volatile storage element is replaced.