Set up AJAX listener (periodic refresh) with Rails?

Is there a built-in way to do a periodic refresh in Rails?

I would like to use setInterval() to make a g XMLHttpRequest call once
a second. Does Rails support any inherent helper methods to make this
easier?

Thanks!
Chirag

ps. the pattern is described here:
http://ajaxpatterns.org/Periodic_Refresh

periodically_call_remote

http://api.rubyonrails.org/classes/ActionView/Helpers/PrototypeHelper.html#M000528

b