" ... signalfd() creates a file descriptor that can be used to accept signals targeted at the caller. This provides an alternative to the use of a signal handler or sigwaitinfo(2), and has the advantage that the file descriptor may be monitored by select(2), poll(2), and epoll(7) .. "

" ... Now consider the timerfd() system call, which was added to the 2.6.22 kernel. The purpose of this call is to allow an application to obtain a file descriptor to use with timer events, eliminating the need to use signals ... "