- (void) doUpdate { dispatch_async(dispatch_get_global_queue(DISPATCH_QUEUE_PRIORITY_DEFAULT, 0), ^{ [self beginBackgroundUpdateTask]; NSURLResponse * response = nil; NSError * error = nil; NSData * responseData = [NSURLConnection sendSynchronousRequest: request returningResponse: &response error: &error]; // Do something with the result [self endBackgroundUpdateTask]; }); } - (void) beginBackgroundUpdateTask { self.backgroundUpdateTask = [[UIApplication sharedApplication] beginBackgroundTaskWithExpirationHandler:^{ [self endBackgroundUpdateTask]; }]; } - (void) endBackgroundUpdateTask { [[UIApplication sharedApplication] endBackgroundTask: self.backgroundUpdateTask]; self.backgroundUpdateTask = UIBackgroundTaskInvalid; }