Patent ID: 7218566

Claim:
A method comprising: placing a plurality of memory modules into a power-saving state when the modules are idle; receiving a first memory access request when the memory modules are idle; identifying a first one of the memory modules as a target of the first memory access request; powering up only the first one of the memory modules from the power-saving state to a normal power state; servicing the first memory access request after powering up only the first one of the memory modules; receiving a second memory access request after receiving the first memory access request; identifying a second one of the memory modules as a target of the second memory access request; powering up the second one of the memory modules from the power-saving state to a normal power state after beginning to service the first memory access request; returning the first one of the memory modules to the power-saving state after servicing the first memory access request; and servicing the second memory access request after powering up the second one of the memory modules.