timeout.py

import signal

class TimeoutFunctionException(Exception):
    """Exception to raise on a timeout"""
    pass

class TimeoutFunction:
    def __init__(self, function, timeout):
        self.timeout = timeout
        self.function = function

    def handle_timeout(self, signum, frame):
        raise TimeoutFunctionException()

    def __call__(self, *args, **kwargs):
        old = signal.signal(signal.SIGALRM, self.handle_timeout)                
        signal.alarm(self.timeout)                                              
        try:                                                                    
            result = self.function(*args, **kwargs)
        finally:                                                                
            signal.signal(signal.SIGALRM, old)                                  
        signal.alarm(0)                                                         
        return result