Abstract: A method for data storage includes, in a memory that includes multiple memory blocks, specifying at a first time a first over-provisioning overhead, and storing data in the memory while retaining in the memory blocks memory areas, which do not hold valid data and whose aggregated size is at least commensurate with the specified first over-provisioning overhead. Portions of the data from one or more previously-programmed memory blocks containing one or more of the retained memory areas are compacted. At a second time subsequent to the first time, a second over-provisioning overhead, different from the first over-provisioning overhead, is specified, and data storage and data portion compaction is continued while complying with the second over-provisioning overhead.

Abstract: A method for data storage, in a memory that includes multiple analog memory cells, includes setting a parameter of an iterative process applied to a group of the memory cells based on one or more data values stored in at least one of the memory cells in the memory. The iterative process is performed in the group of the memory cells in accordance with the set parameter.

Abstract: A method for operating a memory (28) includes storing data in a group of analog memory cells (32) of the memory as respective first voltage levels. After storing the data, second voltage levels are read from the respective analog memory cells. The second voltage levels are affected by cross-coupling interference causing the second voltage levels to differ from the respective first voltage levels. Cross-coupling coefficients, which quantify the cross-coupling interference among the analog memory cells, are estimated by processing the second voltage levels. The data stored in the group of analog memory cells is reconstructed from the read second voltage levels using the estimated cross-coupling coefficients.

Abstract: A method for content delivery includes defining a guaranteed prefetching mode, in which content is continuously prefetched from a content source to a communication terminal of a user so as to maintain the communication terminal synchronized with the content source. One or more time-of-day intervals, during which the user is expected to access given content, are identified. During the identified time-of-day intervals, the given content is prefetched from the content source to the communication terminal using the guaranteed prefetching mode.

Abstract: A method for data storage includes defining a first programming scheme that programs a group of analog memory cells while reducing interference caused by at least one memory cell that neighbors the group, and a second programming scheme that programs the group of the analog memory cells and does not reduce all of the interference reduced by the first programming scheme. One of the first and second programming schemes is selected based on a criterion defined with respect to the analog memory cells. Data is stored in the group of the analog memory cells using the selected programming scheme.

Abstract: A method for data storage includes, in a host system that operates alternately in a normal state and a hibernation state, reserving a hibernation storage space in a non-volatile storage device for storage of hibernation-related information in preparation for entering the hibernation state. While the host system is operating in the normal state, a storage task other than storage of the hibernation-related information is performed using at least a portion of the reserved hibernation storage space.

Abstract: A method for operating a memory includes storing data in a plurality of analog memory cells that are fabricated on a first semiconductor die by writing input storage values to a group of the analog memory cells. After storing the data, multiple output storage values are read from each of the analog memory cells in the group using respective, different threshold sets of read thresholds, thus providing multiple output sets of the output storage values corresponding respectively to the threshold sets. The multiple output sets of the output storage values are preprocessed by circuitry that is fabricated on the first semiconductor die, to produce preprocessed data. The preprocessed data is provided to a memory controller, which is fabricated on a second semiconductor die that is different from the first semiconductor die. so as to enable the memory controller to reconstruct the data responsively to the preprocessed data.

Abstract: A method for data storage includes encoding each of multiple data items individually using a first Error Correction Code (ECC) to produce respective encoded data items. The encoded data items are stored in a memory. The multiple data items are encoded jointly using a second ECC, so as to produce a code word of the second ECC, and only a part of the code word is stored in the memory. The stored encoded data items are recalled from the memory and the first ECC is decoded in order to reconstruct the data items. Upon a failure to reconstruct a given data item from a respective given encoded data item by decoding the first ECC, the given data item is reconstructed based on the part of the code word of the second ECC and on the encoded data items other than the given encoded data item.

Abstract: A method for operating a memory includes storing data in a plurality of analog memory cells that are fabricated on a first semiconductor die by writing input storage values to a group of the analog memory cells. After storing the data, multiple output storage values are read from each of the analog memory cells in the group using respective, different threshold sets of read thresholds, thus providing multiple output sets of the output storage values corresponding respectively to the threshold sets. The multiple output sets of the output storage values are preprocessed by circuitry that is fabricated on the first semiconductor die, to produce preprocessed data. The preprocessed data is provided to a memory controller, which is fabricated on a second semiconductor die that is different from the first semiconductor die. so as to enable the memory controller to reconstruct the data responsively to the preprocessed data.

Abstract: A method for data storage includes storing data in a memory that includes one or more memory units, each memory unit including memory blocks. The stored data is compacted by copying at least a portion of the data from a first memory block to a second memory block, and subsequently erasing the first memory block. Upon detecting a failure in the second memory block after copying the portion of the data and before erasure of the first memory block, the portion of the data is recovered by reading the portion from the first memory block.

Abstract: A method for data storage includes storing data in a memory that includes one or more memory units, each memory unit including memory blocks. The stored data is compacted by copying at least a portion of the data from a first memory block to a second memory block, and subsequently erasing the first memory block. Upon detecting a failure in the second memory block after copying the portion of the data and before erasure of the first memory block, the portion of the data is recovered by reading the portion from the first memory block.

Abstract: A method for data storage includes defining a first programming scheme that programs a group of analog memory cells while reducing interference caused by at least one memory cell that neighbors the group, and a second programming scheme that programs the group of the analog memory cells and does not reduce all of the interference reduced by the first programming scheme. One of the first and second programming schemes is selected based on a criterion defined with respect to the analog memory cells. Data is stored in the group of the analog memory cells using the selected programming scheme.

Abstract: A method for data storage includes storing data, which is encoded with an Error Correction Code (ECC), in a group of analog memory cells by writing respective first storage values to the memory cells in the group. After storing the data, respective second storage values are read from the memory cells in the group, and the read second storage values are processed so as to decode the ECC. Responsively to a failure in decoding the ECC, one or more of the second storage values that potentially caused the failure are identified as suspect storage values. Respective third storage values are re-read from a subset of the memory cells that includes the memory cells holding the suspect storage values. The ECC is re-decoded using the third storage values so as to reconstruct the stored data.

Abstract: A method for data storage includes defining a first programming scheme that programs a group of analog memory cells while reducing interference caused by at least one memory cell that neighbors the group, and a second programming scheme that programs the group of the analog memory cells and does not reduce all of the interference reduced by the first programming scheme. One of the first and second programming schemes is selected based on a criterion defined with respect to the analog memory cells. Data is stored in the group of the analog memory cells using the selected programming scheme.

Abstract: A method for data storage includes accepting data for storage in a memory that includes multiple analog memory cells and supports a set of built-in programming commands. Each of the programming commands programs a respective page, selected from a group of N pages, in a subset of the memory cells. The subset of the memory cells is programmed to store M pages of the data, M>N, by performing a sequence of the programming commands drawn only from the set.

Abstract: A method for data storage includes storing data in a memory that includes one or more memory units, each memory unit including memory blocks. The stored data is compacted by copying at least a portion of the data from a first memory block to a second memory block, and subsequently erasing the first memory block. Upon detecting a failure in the second memory block after copying the portion of the data and before erasure of the first memory block, the portion of the data is recovered by reading the portion from the first memory block.

Abstract: A method for data storage includes assigning in a memory that includes one or more storage devices a first storage area for storage of user data, and a second storage area, which is separate from the first storage area, for storage of redundancy information related to the user data. Input data is processed to produce redundancy data, and the input data is stored in the first storage area using at least one first write command. The redundancy data is stored in the second storage area using at least one second write command, separate from the first write command.

Abstract: A method for data storage in a memory including multiple memory cells arranged in blocks, includes storing first and second pages in respective first and second groups of the memory cells within a given block of the memory. A pattern of respective positions of one or more defective memory cells is identified in the first group. The second page is recovered by applying the pattern identified in the first group to the second group of the memory cells.

Abstract: A method for data storage includes initially storing a sequence of data pages in a memory that includes multiple memory arrays, such that successive data pages in the sequence are stored in alternation in a first number of the memory arrays. The initially-stored data pages are rearranged in the memory so as to store the successive data pages in the sequence in a second number of the memory arrays, which is less than the first number. The rearranged data pages are read from the second number of the memory arrays.

Abstract: A method for data storage includes, in a memory that includes multiple memory blocks, specifying at a first time a first over-provisioning overhead, and storing data in the memory while retaining in the memory blocks memory areas, which do not hold valid data and whose aggregated size is at least commensurate with the specified first over-provisioning overhead. Portions of the data from one or more previously-programmed memory blocks containing one or more of the retained memory areas are compacted. At a second time subsequent to the first time, a second over-provisioning overhead, different from the first over-provisioning overhead, is specified, and data storage and data portion compaction is continued while complying with the second over-provisioning overhead.