java.sql.SQLException: Io exception: Broken pipe

java.sql.SQLException: Io exception: Connection reset by peer: Connection reset
by peer
        at oracle.jdbc.dbaccess.DBError.throwSqlException(DBError.java:169)
        at oracle.jdbc.dbaccess.DBError.throwSqlException(DBError.java:211)
        at oracle.jdbc.dbaccess.DBError.throwSqlException(DBError.java:324)
        at oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleResultSetImpl.internal_close(OracleResultSetImpl.java:630)
        at oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleStatement.prepare_for_new_result(OracleStatement.java:2480)
        at oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleStatement.executeQuery(OracleStatement.java:567)
                                    and
java.sql.SQLException: Io exception: Broken pipe
        at oracle.jdbc.dbaccess.DBError.throwSqlException(DBError.java:169)
        at oracle.jdbc.dbaccess.DBError.throwSqlException(DBError.java:211)
        at oracle.jdbc.dbaccess.DBError.throwSqlException(DBError.java:324)
        at oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleStatement.doExecuteQuery(OracleStatement.java:1912)
        at oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleStatement.doExecuteWithTimeout(OracleStatement.java:2015)
        at oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleStatement.doScrollStmtExecuteQuery(OracleStatement.java:5532)
        at oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleStatement.executeQuery(OracleStatement.java:577)



In a webapplication with Oracle as database, I am getting this type of error now and then but not always. Could any one let me know in what circumstances the  above two exceptions can occur?

thanks
kiran kumar.