public function running()
{
    if($this->pid)
    {
        $ret = FALSE;
        //THIS IS THE PARENT PROCESS
        if(($data = socket_read($this->socket, Threader::MESSAGE_LENGTH, PHP_BINARY_READ)) !== false)
        {
            $data = trim($data);

            if(strpos($data,"RUNNING")!==FALSE)
                $ret = true;

            else if(strpos($data,"STOP")!==FALSE)
            {
                $ret = false;
                socket_close($this->socket);
            }

            else
            {
                $this->up_to = str_replace('UPTO ','',$data);
                $ret = true;
            }
        }

        return $ret;
    }
}