Async Task Timeout?

Question

There is a very common task I face again. I have already solved this a couple of times, but now I am looking for a more "elegant" way - can you deliver some input?

Situation:
I have a Method which I would like to run "semi async". In other words: Start it and wait a given time x. If the method is not finished by then ("timed out"), I want to continue my code with some cleanup procedures.

Solutions so far:

1. Use an AutoResetEvent (or ManualResetEvent) combined with an annonymus method using .WaitOne(x).
   
2. Use a Thread/BackgroundWorker combined with a Timer. If the timer hits its handler before the thread stops it, the therad is timed out.

Both appraochs work fine but I imagine there is a better way with 4.0.

Suggestions?

Answer 1

Does Task.Wait(Timeout) from the Task Parallel Library do what you want? (You may wish to combine this with cancellation tokens to cancel the task after the timeout occurs.)