LinuxQuestions.org - java threaded functions????

hello all, im building a client and server, which i have working however ive noticed a flaw in my client, i made a threaded class to handle the connection because it needs a loop and if i have this in my main class, my program will get stuck in the loop.

this is the code:

Code:

package current.client;

import java.io.*;

import java.net.*;



public class clientThread extends Thread {

        public boolean connected = false;

        

        String fromServer;

        String fromUser;

        Socket socket = null;

        PrintWriter out = null;

        BufferedReader in = null;

        BufferedReader stdIn = new BufferedReader( new InputStreamReader( System.in ) );

        

        

    public String connect( String ip, int port ) throws IOException {

        String value;

        

        try {

            socket = new Socket( ip, port );

            out = new PrintWriter( socket.getOutputStream(), true );

            in = new BufferedReader( new InputStreamReader( socket.getInputStream() ) );

            value = "State: Connected to: " + ip + ":" + port;

            connected = true;

        } catch( UnknownHostException errUE ) {

            value = "State: Cant find server.";

            connected = false;

        } catch( IOException errIO ) {

            value = "State: Cant IO with server make sure its running.";

            connected = false;

        }

        return value;

    }

now this code works fine, however, if the client receives data from the server the main class doesnt receive the information as this class gets there first. is there a way to make this class into a threaded function i.e. public connect() extends Thread?? is that possible? if not is there a way i could get this class to forward the information to a handle in my clients main class??

please please help!!!!