scala - Pattern for interruptible loops using actors -

i'm designing actor consumes items endless stream, , need way control when starts , stops using messages. there common pattern implementing interruptible loops actors? thinking of having actor send messages itself. (pseudo scala):

class interruptible extends actor {   val stream: stream   val running: boolean    def receive = {     case "start" => {       running = true       consumeitem     }      case "stop" => {       running = false     }      case "consumenext" => consumeitem   }    def consumeitem {     if (running) {       stream.getitem       ! "consumenext"     }   } } 

is best way go things?

thanks!

perhaps encoded this:

class interruptible extends actor {   val stream: stream    def inactive: receive = { // behavior when inactive     case "start" =>       self become active   }    def active: receive = { // behavior when it's active     case "stop" =>       self become inactive     case "next" =>       dosomethingwith(stream.getitem)       self ! "next"   }    def receive = inactive // start out inactive } 

cheers,