code: public void close()
      {
      if (_socket!=null) {
          try {
          _socket.close();
          _socket = null;
          } catch (IOException e) {
          System.err.println("Exception: " + e);
          // throw new SoccomException(SoccomException.RECV_ERROR);
          }
          _in = null;
          _out = null;
      }
      }
docs: Close the connection.
  This is automatically called at garbage collection but
  it is a good idea to voluntarily call it as soon as the connection
  is not needed any more.