$sock = new IO::Socket::INET (
                                  PeerAddr => $$display{'dp_ipaddress'},
                                  PeerPort => $$display{'dp_tcpport'},
                                  Proto    => 'tcp',
                                  Blocking => 1,
                                  Timeout  => 3,
                                 );

# blah blah constructing $msg

$sock->send($msg);
$resp =  <$sock>;