Method and system for power consumption management, and corresponding computer program product

A system for reducing power consumption in processing apparatus (10 to 70) including a memory (70) comprises a clock controller (30) for controlling the clock period of the processing apparatus to switch the processing apparatus (10 to 70) to a slow operating mode wherein the clock period is longer then the time required to recover from memory standby mode plus the time to execute a read command in the memory (70). A memory management module (40, 50) is provided configured for controlling the status of the memory (70) during the slow operating mode by: - maintaining the (70) in a stand-by mode when no memory read/write commands are to be executed, and - if any said read/write commands are required to be executed, switching said memory (70) on only for the time required to perform the memory read/write commands.