alarm 10;		# send me a signal in 10 seconds
# do some code which may not complete
alarm 0;		# if we get here in time, disable the alarm


##</code><code>##

eval {
	local $SIG{ALRM} = sub { die "child process took too long to complete" };
	alarm 10;
# do whatever your little heart desires, hope it's fast enough
	alarm 0;	# whew, just made it
};
if ($@ && $@ !~ /alarm clock restart/) { # abort the child process gracefully 
} else {
	# send the parent the information ?
}