The setitimer function sets the timer specified by which to the value specified by value, returning the previous value of the timer if ovalue is nonzero. A timer value is defined by the itimerval structure: struct itimerval { struct timeval it_interval; struct timeval it_value; }; The value of the itimerval structure members are: as follows itimerval Member Value Meaning it_interval = 0 Disables a timer after its next expiration (assumes it_value is nonzero). it_interval = Specifies a value used in reloading it_value nonzero when the timer expires. it_value = 0 Disables a timer. it_value = Indicates the time to the next timer nonzero expiration. Time values smaller than the resolution of the system clock are rounded up to this resolution. The getitimer function provides one interval timer, defined in the <time.h> header file as ITIMER_REAL. This timer decrements in real time. When the timer expires, it delivers a SIGALARM signal. NOTE The interaction between setitimer and any of alarm, sleep, or usleep is unspecified.