Rate-based statistics are aperiodically refreshed. For example, for each
Internet Protocol address being monitored, a time stamp of the last (most
recent) statistics object (e.g., packet) and corresponding rate-based
statistics are stored. The time stamp of a new statistics object is
compared with the stored time stamp. The stored time stamp may be
updated, and the stored statistics may be updated or refreshed, depending
on the result of the comparison.