There are 5 references to the word in the patent, "Alternative, Alternately, Alternatively"...

Which Alternately are you refering to? NUMBER 4? I suppose.

1.FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative process for reading data from semiconductor memory cells according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2.FIG. 4 illustrates a process 400 for obtaining and storing data representing functional errors in selected programmed memory cells of a memory array according to an embodiment the present invention. At step 410, a list of selected memory cells is established. The list may be the same as the list used in step 310. Alternately, the list can be for regions having defective sectors on the primary defect list (PDL) or secondary defect list (SDL) read from the memory array and is thus potentially variable each time the memory array is used.

3.At step 530, representations of error location and types are used to create a reference map which uniquely identifies the semiconducting device which was written. Alternatively, the reference fingerprint may comprise a linear feedback shift register to compact the error locations rather than storing the numerical representations of locations and types of error obtained in step 520.

4.While not required in all aspects, the reference defect locations may be used as functional memory to store data during normal use. Thus, data management information in a chosen location within the memory array, or alternatively may be passed to an output of the memory device for external storage may offer session keying and memory patterning which is only replicable by the semiconductor itself without sacrificing storage space otherwise usable by the memory device. As such, the reference map is unique to the memory device and is usable to identify the semiconductor memory when subsequently used by the device.

5.At step 620, the read result from step 610 is compared with the stored reference map of the device. While not required in all aspects, the reference map can be generated by the device in a prior session of using the memory device. Alternately, the reference map can be retrieved from an external location (such as a server), such as where a reader retrieves an identification of the memory device (such as from the memory device), sends the retrieved identification to the external location, retrieves the reference map from the external location, and stores the reference map so as to authenticate the memory device.