Full-duplex communication

Hi, I had a peculiar requirement. I need the ability to send asynchronous data from my web server to the client (COM component). I know that the first thing ppl will say is not to be using a web server, and to use a TCP solution. Thing is that the system is in a production environment and needs to be optimised. So i came up with the solution that if I could get hold of the socket on which the client is reading, and store it somewhere, other php scripts or a C++ binary can use the socket to write() to it, and the client on the other end will receive the data. Putting it in more detail - The client calls a script on the server - script_a.php using a keep-alive connection. The script gets the socket from the web server (this is the unknown), and stores it in a database. Script finishes execution, client reads response, but apache doesnt close the connection since its keep-alive. Client wants to call another script on the server, just writes to the same socket. Script returns response. Server wants to send data asynchronously to the client, so a PHP script (invoked from another server) gets the socket of the client from the database and writes to it. Client reads from the socket. So this is basically a full-duplex connection over HTTP :) Only thing to get is the socket :( Any ideas? I'm willing to do some coding in C to get this done, if someone can pls direct me where to start... can the PHP module get the socket details from apache? Or will i have to do a hack on apache itself? Tx, Vinod. _________________________________________________________ Click below to visit monsterindia.com and review jobs in India or Abroad http://monsterindia.rediff.com/jobs