Corrected data storage and handling methods

A method of managing data in a memory system having a non-volatile memory array that includes multiple blocks, a block being the minimum unit of erase, comprising:

• receiving a read command from a host identifying a plurality of sectors in a first block to be read within a predetermined time limit that is less than the time required to copy one block of the memory array;
• reading the plurality of sectors from the first block and determining whether ones of the plurality of sectors are to be corrected and replaced;
• if an individual sector is to be corrected and replaced, then correcting the individual sector and writing the corrected sector to a second block within the predetermined time limit;
• maintaining sectors that are not to be corrected and replaced in the first block in uncorrected form without writing them to the second block;
• sending the individual sector and the sectors that are not to be corrected and replaced to the host;
• and
• subsequently copying the individual sector and the sectors that are not to be corrected and replaced to a third block.

A method of managing data in a memory system having a non-volatile memory array that includes multiple blocks, a block being the minimum unit of erase, comprising:

• identifying sectors of data to be corrected and replaced and writing corrected replacement sectors for only the identified sectors to a dedicated block, while leaving uncorrected sectors in original blocks with the identified sectors;
• receiving updated sectors from a host, the updated sectors replacing sectors stored in the non-volatile memory array;
• storing the updated sectors in the non-volatile memory;
• subsequently receiving a read command from a host identifying a sector having a logical address for which a first corrected replacement sector exists in the dedicated block and for which a first updated sector exists in the non-volatile memory;
• and
• sending the most recently written one of the first corrected replacement sector and the first updated sector to the host.

A method of managing data in a non-volatile memory array having multiple blocks of non-volatile memory cells, a block being the minimum unit of erase, a block containing multiple addressable units of data, comprising:

• reading data from a first block;
• determining if one or more portions of the data are to be corrected and replaced in the non-volatile memory;
• and
• when a portion of the data is to be corrected and replaced, storing a corrected version of the portion of the data in a second block but not replacing other portions of the data and not storing the other portions of the data in the second block.