PageMethods/WebMethod call & ASP.NET InProc Session timeout

Hi,

I have a browser client-side timer that (on a regular interval) makes a call to a PageMethods function to call a System.Web.Services.WebMethod method in the server VB.NET code.  The purpose of this code is to regularly check for a "system message" that the server system admin can post.

The problem I have is that this "regular check for a system message", each time the check is called, appears to reset thet asp.net InProc "session idle" time.  So, the session will never time out (we need the session to time out if idle for like an hour).

Is there maybe a way to not have the WebMethod call reset the InProc session idle time?

Maybe an alternative approach some other way?

Thanks!

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VB.NET CODE (this usercontrol is embedded in my .aspx page)

Partial Public Class Portal
  Inherits System.Web. ...