can the connection_timeout function output a string to the page?
es: <table> <? for($i=0;$i<100;$i++) { if(connection_timeout()) { echo "<tr><td>connection timedout</td></tr>"; echo "</table>"; }
echo "<td>$i</td>"; } ?> </table>
connection_timeout() only returns true of false, so your example could work. But check the manual for more info about hw to use it.