Rex,

I've never actually used PHP for this type of thing ... but you might want to start by looking here:

http://fisheye.freeswitch.org/browse/FreeSWITCH/libs/esl/php/single_command.php?r=12216

or

http://wiki.freeswitch.org/wiki/PHP_Event_Socket

Good luck.  I'm sure some other folks here who use PHP for this type of app will be able to assist more.

SDR