}
    bless $self;
    return $self;
}

sub alarmed {
    my $self = shift;

    my $result = 0;
    if (defined($self->{CHILD_PID})) {
        my $ret = waitpid($self->{CHILD_PID}, 1);
        if ($ret == -1) {
            $result = 1;
        } 
    }
    return $result;
}