Software refreshed memory device and method

A method of preserving data stored in a volatile memory device having a plurality of memory cells, comprising:

• addressing a first individual memory cell of said plurality of memory cells;
• waiting for a first period of time since said first individual memory cell was addressed;
• determining whether said first individual memory cell needs to be refreshed;
• if said first individual memory cell needs to be refreshed, determining whether system resources are available to refresh said first individual memory cell;
• if said first individual memory cell needs to be refreshed and if said system resources are not available, monitoring whether said system resources become available to refresh said first individual memory cell within a second period of time since said first individual memory cell was addressed;
• if said first individual memory cell needs to be refreshed and if said system resources do not become available within said second period of time, forcing said resources to be relinquished, such that said resources become available to refresh said first individual memory cell;
• and
• if said first individual memory cell needs to be refreshed, refreshing said first individual memory cell using said available system resources.

A method of avoiding loss of data in an array of volatile memory cells, comprising:

• resetting a refresh timer for a given individual memory cell once said memory cell has been refreshed, said timer counting down time remaining before said memory cell must be refreshed again;
• monitoring whether resources are available to refresh said given memory cell;
• if resources do not become available to refresh said given memory cell within a first predetermined time period within said time remaining, forcing said resources to be relinquished, such that said resources become available to refresh said given memory cell;
• and
• using said available resources to refresh said given memory cell within said time remaining.

A method of preserving data stored in a volatile memory device having a plurality of memory cells, the method comprising:

• accessing a first individual memory cell of said plurality of memory cells;
• waiting for a first period of time after said first individual memory cell is accessed;
• determining whether said first individual memory cell needs to be refreshed;
• and
• refreshing said first individual memory cell after said first period of time if it is determined that said memory cell needs to be refreshed.

A memory device having a plurality of memory cells that must be periodically refreshed, said memory device comprising:

• a processor coupled to said plurality of memory cells;
• wherein said processor is configured to wait for a first period of time after a first individual memory cell is accessed to determine whether said first individual memory cell needs to be refreshed;
• and
• to refresh said first individual memory cell after said first period of time, if it is determined that said first individual memory cell needs to be refreshed.