We have an app that will have a need for automation servers, some which we have operating. Have yet to find a really good mechanism to send messages between the client PC which kicked off the process and the server process. Would like to have interaction in both directions.

From client to servers: Users want to be able to shut down this process from the client that kicked it off. We're finding that an ESC keypress is acknowledged but not acted upon until the server process completes and control is passed back to the client PC.

From servers to client: Progress updates for display on the form that kicked the process off.

Any good thoughts out there or are we stuck with process control being defined in the application for the client and only doing as small amounts of processing as possible on the server to let control get back to the client quicker?

Thanks,
Steve