ASP.NET 2.0 Advice

I need some architectural insight on how best to set up a specific task. Currently I have a database that contains a good deal of documents. I also have some classes that do some extensive processing on these documents. I would like to set up a webservice that will allow webbased clients to access these documents. However, the classes that process the document can quite possible take a good deal of time. This can be between 20 seconds and 5 minutes. As a result, I would like to set up a website that makes use of Ajax that shows a progress bar of sorts. What I would like is a small example website that uses AJAX.net. The client page should call a webservice that has to create some other process or thread. This process can just be a loop that runs for N minutes. I'm not sure what form it should take, I need you to guide me on that. While this other process is running the webservice should return a state integer so that the Ajax client can update. There should be 5 states. On state five, the process is complete after N minutes. The ajax client should keep sending requests, updating it's viewers with the state of the application. When the state reaches 5 it should stop and say "Process Complete." I'll need this sample pretty well documented and a tutorial to come with it because I know webservices really well, but I am an [login to view URL] n00bie and like I said, I really don't even know what this long process should run in. Thanks ## Deliverables 1) Complete and fully-functional working program(s) in executable form as well as complete source code of all work done. 2) Deliverables must be in ready-to-run condition, as follows (depending on the nature of the deliverables): a) For web sites or other server-side deliverables intended to only ever exist in one place in the Buyer's environment--Deliverables must be installed by the Seller in ready-to-run condition in the Buyer's environment. b) For all others including desktop software or software the buyer intends to distribute: A software installation package that will install the software in ready-to-run condition on the platform(s) specified in this bid request. 3) All deliverables will be considered "work made for hire" under U.S. Copyright law. Buyer will receive exclusive and complete copyrights to all work purchased. (No GPL, GNU, 3rd party components, etc. unless all copyright ramifications are explained AND AGREED TO by the buyer on the site per the coder's Seller Legal Agreement). ## Platform .NET 2.0