class RateMonitor {

  public double getRate()
  {
    long duration = getDuration();

    if (_numTicks > 1000000000)
    {
      _rate = 1000000000 * ((double)_numTicks / (double) duration );
    }
    else
    {
      _rate = _numTicks * 1000000000.0 / duration;
    }
    return _rate;
  }

  public  RateMonitor(String name);

}