A method for use in a memory controller for power control according to a plurality of memory power modes of operation, comprising: generating power and resource control commands to correspond with one of the plurality of memory power modes of operation or to correspond with transitions between the plurality of memory power modes of operation; determining to transition from a first to a second memory power mode of operation wherein the first memory power mode of operation is a powered memory power mode of operation and the second memory power mode of operation is a reduced memory power mode of operation; monitoring a plurality of buffers to determine if a memory access request has been received from a memory client; determining to change from the second memory power mode of operation to the first memory power mode of operation based upon the received memory access request; characterized in further comprising: assigning an access time value to a received memory access request based upon an ID of the memory client; determining to transition to the second memory power mode of operation based upon the access time value assigned to the received memory access request; wherein: the access time value is a counter value that is decremented based upon clock pulses; and the step of determining to transition to the second memory power mode of operation is based upon the decremented value of the access time value being greater than or equal to a threshold value. generating power and resource control commands to correspond with one of the plurality of memory power modes of operation or to correspond with transitions between the plurality of memory power modes of operation; determining to transition from a first to a second memory power mode of operation wherein the first memory power mode of operation is a powered memory power mode of operation and the second memory power mode of operation is a reduced memory power mode of operation; monitoring a plurality of buffers to determine if a memory access request has been received from a memory client; determining to change from the second memory power mode of operation to the first memory power mode of operation based upon the received memory access request; characterized in further comprising: assigning an access time value to a received memory access request based upon an ID of the memory client; determining to transition to the second memory power mode of operation based upon the access time value assigned to the received memory access request; wherein: the access time value is a counter value that is decremented based upon clock pulses; and the step of determining to transition to the second memory power mode of operation is based upon the decremented value of the access time value being greater than or equal to a threshold value. assigning an access time value to a received memory access request based upon an ID of the memory client; determining to transition to the second memory power mode of operation based upon the access time value assigned to the received memory access request; wherein: the access time value is a counter value that is decremented based upon clock pulses; and the step of determining to transition to the second memory power mode of operation is based upon the decremented value of the access time value being greater than or equal to a threshold value. the access time value is a counter value that is decremented based upon clock pulses; and the step of determining to transition to the second memory power mode of operation is based upon the decremented value of the access time value being greater than or equal to a threshold value.