An encoding method comprises generating a character map of an alphanumeric character string, identifying runs of like character type symbols in sequential positions, and removing the runs of character type symbols from the character map. First contact pads are positioned between the gate structures and have heights lower than the heights of the gate structures. Subsequent to a flash program operation, a sector’s data are read from a flash array into the first data register and compared to the target data stored in the second register. The prediction circuitry makes the prediction based on the type of the data access instruction executed by the processing circuitry.