public static void maintainConnection() {
		// constantly tell the server you are around
		new Runnable() {
			public void run() {
				// add the socket code to communicate with server here

				Process p1 = null;
				try {
					p1 = java.lang.Runtime.getRuntime().exec(
							"ping www.google.com");
					System.out.println(p1.waitFor());
				} catch (IOException ex) {
					Logger.getLogger(ClientHelper.class.getName()).log(
							Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
				} catch (InterruptedException ex) {
					Logger.getLogger(ClientHelper.class.getName()).log(
							Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
				}				
			}
		};
	}