$cmd="myCommand";
    # Timeout evaluation:
    eval {
      # Set action to be done when alarm occurs:
      local $SIG{ALRM} = sub { die "ALARM_COMMAND_TIMEOUT" };
      # Schedule alarm in $CMD_TIMEOUT seconds:
      alarm($CMD_TIMEOUT);

      ### execute the command that can block
      $Results = `$cmd`;
      if ($?) {# optional error handling}
      }
      wait;
      alarm(0);

      close(PIPE);
    };
    alarm(0);