Method and system for improving word line data retention for memory blocks

A storage device, comprising:

• one or more memories;
• and
• one or more controllers configured to:
• access one or more failed bit counts (FBCs) for one or more pages of a word line in a block, wherein the block has one or more programmed word ones in a programmed region, and one or more unprogrammed word lines in an unprogrammed region, and wherein the word line separates the programmed word lines of the programmed region from the unprogrammed word lines of the unprogrammed region;
• determine whether any of the FBCs of any of the pages of the word line exceed a predetermined threshold;
• in response to all FBCs of all pages of the word line exceeding the predetermined threshold, perform pre-verify operations on one or more of the programmed word lines in the programmed region;
• programming the word line with first data equal to second data that is programmed in a second block in the storage device, wherein the programmed first data of the word line is configured by a soft program component, wherein the soft program component is configured to reduce all accessed FBCs of the word line to second FBCs or the word line that does not exceed the predetermined threshold, and wherein the second FBCs of the word line are substantially less than all accessed FBCs of the word line;
• and
• in response to preventing further pre-verify operations on the respective programmed word lines, programming the unprogrammed word lines in the unprogrammed region of the block.

A storage device, comprising:

• a failed bit count (FBC) reduction device;
• one or more memories communicatively coupled to the FBC reduction device;
• and
• one or more controllers communicatively coupled to at least one or more of the memories and the FBC reduction device, wherein the FBC reduction device comprises:
• a FBC count component configured to access a FBC for a word line in a block, wherein the block has one or more programmed word lines in a programmed region, and one or more unprogrammed word lines in an unprogrammed region, and wherein the word line separates the programmed word lines of the programmed region from the unprogrammed word lines of the unprogrammed region;
• a threshold component configured to determine whether the FBC of the word line exceeds a predetermined threshold;
• a pre-verify component configured to, in response to the FBC of the word line exceeding the predetermined threshold, perform pre-verify operations on one or more of the programmed word lines in the programmed region;
• a soft program component configured to program the word line with first data equal to second data that is programmed in a second block in the storage device;
• and
• a program component configured to, in response to preventing further pre-verify operations on the respective programmed word lines, program the unprogrammed word lines in the unprogrammed region of the block.