My setup: Currently running a dedicated server with an Apache, PHP, MYSQL. My DB is all set up and stores everything correctly. I'm just trying to figure out how to best display things live in an efficient way.
This would be a live challenging system for a web based game.
User A sends a challenge to User B
User B is alerted immediately and must take action on whether to Accept or Decline
Once User B accepts he and User A are both taken to a specific page that is served up by the DB (nothing special happens on this page,and they dont need to be in sync or anything)
The response from User B is a simple yes or no, no other parameters are set by User B, the page they are going to has already been defined when User A sends the challenge.
Whichever config I implement for this challenge system, I am assuming it will also work for instant sitewide notifications. The only difference is that notifications do not require an instant response from User B.
I have read up on long polling techniques, comet etc.. But im still looking for opinions on the best way to achieve this, and make it scalable.
I am open to trying anything as long as it will work with (or in tandem) to my current PHP and MYSQL set up. Thanks!