Continuously check MySQL tables (scheduler)

Hi! I would need to build a scheduler system using PHP-Apache-MySQL under Windows or Linux, that enable me to schedule pager messages to different users.

There should be a form from which a user would post his preferences, telling the system that he wants to receive a certain kind of pager message for example each: Mon-Wed-Fri at 8am, etc, etc and schedule his messages.


From my side, I think there should be a process that continuously checks the MySQL tables to see if there is any pending messages to be sent on that moment and accept new ones.

Any idea on how to build it ?
Do you know any Open Source solution ?

I look forward to your quick reply
Thank you very much in advance!
Gabriel

Hi Gabriel,

If I were doing something like this, I would use a cron job. The cron job would be scheduled to run at all intervals allowed by your sign up form (e.g. M-F @ 8:00, M-F @ 9:00, etc.).

The script that is called would do the heavy lifting of checking the database for any new messages, and then looking to see if anyone is subscribed to receive messages at that interval.

Probably a more elegant way to do it, but this should do the trick. Hope that helps.