Selectively programming data in multi-level cell memory

A method for controlling a multi-level memory cell device in a computing device wherein the computing device includes at least a volatile memory, the method comprising:

• identifying N access speeds available for accessing the multi-level memory cell device (MLMCD) that comprises multi-level cells, wherein the multi-level cells are configured to store at least two bits per cell wherein most significant bits are grouped to define fast access pages and least significant bits are grouped to define slow access pages, wherein the fast access pages are accessed with less time and more power than the slow access pages;
• accessing the MLMCD upon receiving a memory command that is directed to the MLMCD, wherein the MLMCD is accessed using one speed of the N access speeds identified, where the one speed of the N access speeds is selected based on at least one parameter in the memory command;
• detecting a power indication signal received from a component in the computing device wherein the power indication signal, when asserted, indicates that less power is requested;
• and
• in response to the power indication signal being asserted, programming data from the volatile memory to the slow access pages by programming the data into a group of least significant bits of the multi-level memory cell device while skipping the most significant bits to use less power.

A computing device, comprising:

• a volatile memory;
• a multi-level memory cell device (MLMCD) comprising multi-level cells, wherein the multi-level cells are configured to store at least two bits per cell wherein most significant bits are grouped to define fast access pages and least significant bits are grouped to define slow access pages, wherein the fast access pages are accessed with less time and more power than the slow access pages;
• a memory controller implemented in a chip that is operatively connected to the volatile memory and the multi-level memory cell device, the memory controller comprising:
• flash determination logic, implemented in at least hardware in the chip, to identify N access speeds available for accessing a multi-level memory cell device (MLMCD) comprising multi-level cells, wherein the multi-level cells are configured to store at least two bits per cell wherein most significant bits are grouped to define fast access pages and least significant bits are grouped to define slow access pages, wherein the fast access pages are accessed with less time and more power than the slow access pages;
• and
• flash control logic, implemented in at least the hardware in the chip, to access the MLMCD upon receiving a memory command that is directed to a single type of memory, wherein the MLMCD is to be accessed using one speed of the N access speeds, where the one speed of the N access speeds is selected based on at least one parameter in the memory command;
• wherein flash control logic is further configured to detect a power indication signal received from a component in the computing device wherein the power indication signal, when asserted, indicates that less power is requested;
• wherein, in response to the power indication signal being asserted, the flash control logic is further configured to program data from the volatile memory to the slow access pages of the MLMCD by programming the data into a group of least significant bits of the multi-level memory cell device while skipping the most significant bits to use less power.