getting pid of backend

Is there a way to read the pid of the actual backend from SQL? I know a
dirty workaround: 

setting debug=2, log_pid=yes in postgresql.conf;

writing a function doing this:

executing a 'SELECT a_generated_random_number';
while not found pidreading from the postmaster log waiting for a_generated_random_number.

Is there an easier method?

--                         Kov\'acs, Zolt\'an                        kovacsz@pc10.radnoti-szeged.sulinet.hu
          http://www.math.u-szeged.hu/~kovzol                        ftp://pc10.radnoti-szeged.sulinet.hu/home/kovacsz