code: public static void tick (PerformanceObserver obs, String name)
      {
          // get the observer's action hashtable
          Map<String, PerformanceAction> actions = _observers.get(obs);
          if (actions == null) {
              log.warning("Attempt to tick by unknown observer " +
                          "[observer=" + obs + ", name=" + name + "].");
              return;
          }
  
          // get the specified action
          PerformanceAction action = actions.get(name);
          if (action == null) {
              log.warning("Attempt to tick unknown value " +
                          "[observer=" + obs + ", name=" + name + "].");
              return;
          }
  
          // tick the action
          action.tick();
      }
docs: Tick the named action associated with the given observer.
  
  @param obs the action observer.
  @param name the action name.