You could try writing an anonymous self-calling function using setTimeout instead of setInterval:
var i = 0;
(function() {
// stuff
i++;
if (i % 2 == 0) {
// If some condition occurs inside the function, then call itself once again
// immediately
arguments.callee();
} else {
// otherwise call itself in 3 and a half seconds
window.setTimeout(arguments.callee, 3500);
}
})(); // <-- call-itself immediately to start the iteration
UPDATE:
Due to a disagreement expressed in the comments section against the usage of arguments.callee, here's how the same could be achieved using a named function:
var i = 0;
var doStuff = function() {
// stuff
i++;
if (i % 2 == 0) {
// If some condition occurs inside the function, then call itself once again
// immediately
doStuff();
} else {
// otherwise call itself in 3 and a half seconds
window.setTimeout(doStuff, 3500);
}
};
doStuff();
setTimeoutinstead. Much easier, cleaner, I prefer it anyhow.