Is it possible to disable functions/methods?

Question

I recently started using the TimeAction library (which allows for proto-threading) and I noticed it has a really useful function for enabling/disabling threads. I want to use the same idea but apply it to a general function, though I haven't been able to find a possible solution to doing such a task on the internet. Here is a potential way for how I would like to implement it:

#include <TimedAction.h>

boolean disableCheck = false;
boolean checking = false;
boolean state = false;
const int motionPin = 5;
void checkMotion();
void motion();
void DisableCheckMotion();

TimedAction checkable = TimedAction(6000, DisableCheckMotion);

void setup() {
   pinMode(motionPin, INPUT);
   Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
  checkMotion(); //this will be the function I wish to enable and disable

  if(checking == true)
  {
    motion();
  }
  if(disableCheck == true)
  {
    checkable.check();
  }

}
void checkMotion()
{
   checking = true;
}
void motion()
{
   if(digitalRead(motionPin) == HIGH)
{
   Serial.println("motion");
   checking = false;
   checkable.check();
}
}
void DisableCheckMotion()
{
  state ? state = true : state = false;
  if(state == false)
{
  checkMotion.disable(); //this is where I would like to disable the function
  disableCheck = true;
}

  if(state == true)
{
  checkMotion.enable(); //this is where I would like to enable the function
  disableCheck = false;
}
}

The purpose of this task is to output one value for whenever a PIR scanner (set at pin 5) picks up motion. Without any form of delaying it will flood the output with values (which is undesirable). A thread is used to offer this delay, I cannot put the code for checking for motion within the thread as I could risk the chance of a reading being missed.

The ideal setup would be for the Arduino board to receive the input and then delay the input from being received again for a period of time while not delaying the entire program. What would be the best way to implement this?

Answer 1

If you don't want a function to run you can just return at the start of that function:

void myFunction() {
    if (!myFunctionShouldRun) return;
    ... rest of function ...
}

If myFunctionShouldRun is false the if will be true (due to the !) and the function will return. If it's true the rest of the function will execute.