calling an ASP program or object from within php

Greetings, Documentation searched through: book, search through newsgroup archive, php.net -- frankly having a tough time posing the question. I am new to php-windows and am clueless about ASP. I am having to create a code that will call an ASP script for the database connectivity. I need to pass a couple of variables to the asp program. I don't need any return - my job is done once I call the asp script. I know that php can call external programs by using 'exec' but I am not sure if a) that will work with asp and b) if that is the most effective/efficient way. I have the php4 bible which has the most windows info I have see in the literature and it discusses COM objects but not really calling a program. Please advise, TIA, Nicole