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A method, apparatus and system, the method comprising receiving a request indication representing a request for an item, receiving a provided indication representing providing said item, and signalling an operator when the request indication has no corresponding provided indication. The apparatus in

A method, apparatus and system, the method comprising receiving a request indication representing a request for an item, receiving a provided indication representing providing said item, and signalling an operator when the request indication has no corresponding provided indication. The apparatus includes a request indication receiver for receiving the request indication, a provided indication receiver for receiving the provided indication, a processing circuit for determining when the request indication has no corresponding provided indication, and a signal device in communication with the processing circuit for signalling the operator when the request indication has no corresponding provided indication. The system includes the apparatus and further includes a point of sale terminal in communication with the request indication receiver for providing representations of new requested amounts of an item, and a fluid dispensing system in communication with the provided indication receiver for providing representations of new provided amounts of the item.

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A method, apparatus and system, the method comprising receiving a request indication representing a request for an item, receiving a provided indication representing providing said item, and signalling an operator when the request indication has no corresponding provided indication. The apparatus in

A method, apparatus and system, the method comprising receiving a request indication representing a request for an item, receiving a provided indication representing providing said item, and signalling an operator when the request indication has no corresponding provided indication. The apparatus includes a request indication receiver for receiving the request indication, a provided indication receiver for receiving the provided indication, a processing circuit for determining when the request indication has no corresponding provided indication, and a signal device in communication with the processing circuit for signalling the operator when the request indication has no corresponding provided indication. The system includes the apparatus and further includes a point of sale terminal in communication with the request indication receiver for providing representations of new requested amounts of an item, and a fluid dispensing system in communication with the provided indication receiver for providing representations of new provided amounts of the item. when said ratio is less than a threshold. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising resetting said reply count and said request count after said dividing. 3. A method for determining the performance of a first processor in a computer network, said first processor operatively coupled to a second processor, the method comprising: incrementing a request count when said second processor requests data from said first processor, said request count indicating a total number of requests from a last reset of said request count; determining the performance of said first processor based upon a reply count and said request count, said reply count indicating a total number of replies from a last reset of said reply count; and incrementing said reply count when said second processor receives data from said first processor. 4. The method of claim 3 wherein said determining the performance of said first processor further comprises: dividing said reply count by said request count to create a ratio when said request count is less than a minimum request count; and indicating the performance of said first processor is less than expected when said ratio is less than a minimum ratio. 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising resetting said reply count and said request count after said determining the performance of said first processor. 6. The method of claim 3 wherein said determining the performance of said first processor further comprises: dividing said reply count by said request count to create a ratio after a predetermined time; and indicating the performance of said first processor is less than expected when said ratio is less than a minimum ratio. 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising resetting said reply count and said request count after said determining the performance of said first processor. 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said predetermined time further comprises a minimum time between consecutive ratio calculations. 9. The method of claim 3 wherein said determining the performance of said first processor further comprises: dividing said reply count by said request count to create a ratio when a predetermined time has elapsed and when said request count is greater than or equal to a minimum request count; clearing a first indication when said ratio is greater than said minimum ratio; setting said first indication when said ratio is less than or equal to said minimum ratio and when said first indication is cleared; and indicating the performance of said first processor is less than expected when said ratio is less than or equal to said minimum ratio and when said first indication is set. 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising resetting said reply count and said request count after said determining the performance of said first processor. 11. The method of claim 10 wherein said predetermined time further comprises a minimum time between consecutive ratio calculations. 12. The method of claim 3 wherein said determining the performance of said first processor further comprises: dividing said reply count by said request count to create a ratio when a predetermined time has elapsed and when said request count is greater than or equal to a minimum request count; and indicating the performance of said first processor is less than expected when said ratio is less than or equal to a minimum ratio for a predetermined number of consecutive ratio calculations. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising resetting said reply count and said request count after said determining the performance of said first processor. 14. The method of claim 13 wherein said predetermined time further comprises a minimum time between consecutive ratio calculations. 15. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for determining the performance of a first processor, the method comprising: incrementing a request co unt when said second processor requests data from said first processor, said request count indicating a total number of requests from a last reset of said request count; determining the performance of said first processor based upon a reply count and said request count, said reply count indicating a total number of replies from a last reset of said reply count; and incrementing a reply count when said second processor receives data from said first processor. 16. The program storage device of claim 15 wherein said determining the performance of said first processor further comprises: dividing said reply count by said request count to create a ratio when said request count is greater than or equal to a minimum request count; and indicating the performance of said first processor is less than expected when said ratio is less than a minimum ratio. 17. The program storage device of claim 16, said method further comprising resetting said reply count and said request count after said determining the performance of said first processor. 18. The program storage device of claim 15 wherein said determining the performance of said first processor further comprises: dividing said reply count by said request count to create a ratio after a predetermined time; and indicating the performance of said first processor is less than expected when said ratio is less than a minimum ratio. 19. The program storage device of claim 18, said method further comprising resetting said reply count and said request count after said determining the performance of said first processor. 20. The program storage device of claim 19 wherein said predetermined time further comprises a minimum time between consecutive ratio calculations. 21. The program storage device of claim 15 wherein said determining the performance of said first processor further comprises: dividing said reply count by said request count to create a ratio when a predetermined time has elapsed and when said request count is greater than or equal to a minimum request count; clearing a first indication when said ratio is less than or equal to said minimum ratio; setting said first indication when said ratio is less than or equal to said minimum ratio and when said first indication is cleared; and indicating the performance of said first processor is less than expected when said ratio is less than or equal to said minimum ratio and when said first indication is set. 22. The program storage device of claim 21, said method further comprising resetting said reply count and said request count after said determining the performance of said first processor. 23. The program storage device of claim 22 wherein said predetermined time further comprises a minimum time between consecutive ratio calculations. 24. The program storage device of claim 15 wherein said determining the performance of said first processor further comprises: dividing said reply count by said request count to create a ratio when a predetermined time has elapsed and when said request count is greater than or equal to a minimum request count; and indicating the performance of said first processor is less than expected when ratio is less than or equal to a minimum ratio for a predetermined number of consecutive ratio calculations. 25. The program storage device of claim 24, said method further comprising resetting said reply count and said request count after said determining the performance of said first processor. 26. The program storage device of claim 25 wherein said predetermined time further comprises a minimum time between consecutive ratio calculations. 27. An performance monitor for determining the performance of a first processor, comprising: at least one memory having program instructions; and at least one processor operatively coupled to said first processor and configured to use the program instructions to: increment a request count when said at least one processor requests data from said firs t processor, said request count indicating a total number of requests from a last reset of said request count; determine the performance of said first processor based upon a reply count and said request count, said reply count indicating a total number of replies from a last reset of said reply count; and increment said reply count when said second processor receives data from said first processor. 28. A fault tolerant computer network, comprising: a bus; a first processor coupled to said bus; and a second processor coupled to said bus, said second processor comprising a performance monitor, said performance monitor configured to: increment a request count when said second processor requests data from said first processor, said request count indicating a total number of requests from a last reset of said request count; determine the performance of said first processor based upon a reply count and said request count, said reply count indicating a total number of replies from a last reset of said reply count; and increment said reply count when said second processor receives data from said first processor. 29. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said performance monitor is further configured to determine the performance of said first processor by: dividing said reply count by said request count to create a ratio when said request count is greater than or equal to a minimum request count; and indicating the performance of said first processor is less than expected when said ratio is less than a minimum ratio. 30. The apparatus of claim 29, said performance monitor further configured to reset said reply count and said request count after said determining the performance of said first processor. 31. The apparatus of claim 27, said performance monitor further configured to determine the performance of said first processor by: dividing said reply count by said request count to create a ratio after a predetermined time; and indicating the performance of said first processor is less than expected when said ratio is less than a minimum ratio. 32. The apparatus of claim 31, said performance monitor further configured to reset said reply count and said request count after said determining the performance of said first processor. 33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said predetermined time further comprises a minimum time between consecutive ratio calculations. 34. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said performance monitor is further configured to determine the performance of said first processor by: dividing said reply count by said request count to create a ratio when a predetermined time has elapsed and when said request count is greater than or equal to a minimum request count; clearing a first indication when said ratio is greater than said minimum ratio; setting said first indication when said ratio is less than or equal to said minimum ratio and when said first indication is cleared; and indicating the performance of said first processor is less than expected when said ratio is less than or equal to said minimum ratio and when said first indication is set. 35. The apparatus of claim 34, said performance monitor further configured to reset said reply count and said request count after said determining the performance of said first processor. 36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said predetermined time further comprises a minimum time between consecutive ratio calculations. 37. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said performance monitor is further configured to determine the performance of said first processor by: dividing said reply count by said request count to create a ratio when a predetermined time has elapsed and when said request count is greater than or equal to a minimum request count; and indicating the performance of said first processor is less than expected when said ratio is less than or equal to a minimum ratio for a predetermined number of consecutive ratio calculations. 38. The apparatus of claim 37, said performance monitor further configured to reset said reply count and said request count after said determining the performance of said first processor. 39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein said predetermined time further comprises a minimum time between consecutive ratio calculations. 40. A method for determining the performance of a first processor in a computer network, said first processor operatively coupled to a second processor, the method comprising: incrementing a request count when said second processor requests data from said first processor, said request count indicating a total number of requests from a last reset of said request count; incrementing a reply count when said second processor receives data from said first processor, said reply count indicating a total number of replies from a last reset of said reply count; carrying out a mathematical operation on said reply count and said request count to obtain a ratio; and evaluating the performance of said first processor based upon said ratio. 41. The method of claim 40, further comprising resetting said reply count and said request count after said carrying out. 42. The method of claim 40, wherein said carrying out further comprises carrying out said mathematical operation after a predetermined time. 43. The method of claim 42, wherein said predetermined time further comprises a minimum time between consecutive ratio mathematical operations. 44. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions readable by the machine to perform a method for determining the performance of a first processor in a computer network, said first processor operatively coupled to a second processor, the method comprising: incrementing a request count when said second processor requests data from said first processor, said request count indicating a total number of requests from a last reset of said request count; incrementing a reply count when said second processor receives data from said first processor, said reply count indicating a total number of replies from a last reset of said reply count; carrying out a mathematical operation on said reply count and said request count to obtain a ratio; and evaluating the performance of said first processor based upon said ratio. 45. The program storage device of claim 44, said method further comprising resetting said reply count and said request count after said carrying out. 46. The program storage device of claim 44, wherein said carrying out further comprises carrying out said mathematical operation after a predetermined time. 47. The program storage device of claim 46, wherein said predetermined time further comprises a minimum time between consecutive ratio mathematical operations. 48. An apparatus for determining the performance of a first processor in a computer network, said first processor operatively coupled to a second processor, the apparatus comprising: means for incrementing a request count when said second processor requests data from said first processor, said request count indicating a total number of requests from a last reset of said request count; means for incrementing a reply count when said second processor receives data from said first processor, said reply count indicating a total number of replies from a last reset of said reply count; means for carrying out a mathematical operation on said reply count and said request count to obtain a ratio; and means for evaluating the performance of said first processor based upon said ratio. 49. The apparatus of claim 48, further comprising means for resetting said reply count and said request count after said carrying out. 50. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein said means for carrying out further comprises means for carrying out said mathematical operation after a predetermined time. 51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein said predetermined time further comprises a minimum time betwe