Getting information from PHP array

[dfowler]

Hey guys, I have quite a problem that I can't seem to figure out.  There is a form a user fills out to help determine a plan for them to choose.  I have a PHP array that is dynamically created featuring several of the plans.  Here is the basic layout of the array:

Array
(
    [500] => Array
        (
            [minutes] => 500
            [price] => 39.95
            [description] => 1 Year; 500 minutes
            [type] => audioOnly
        )

    [1000] => Array
        (
            [minutes] => 1000
            [price] => 78.95
            [description] => 1 Year; 1,000 minutes
            [type] => audioOnly
        )

    [1500] => Array
        (
            [minutes] => 1500
            [price] => 117.95
            [description] => 1 Year; 1,500 minutes
            [type] => audioOnly
        )

    [2000] => Array
        (
            [minutes] => 2000
            [price] => 153.00
            [description] => 1 Year; 2,000 minutes
            [type] => audioOnly
        )

)

 

Now, the form has three questions (how many meetings, for how long, how often).  After a user inputs the information they click a 'Calculate' button.  Using Javascript the user's inputs are put through an algorithm to get a total estimate of minutes.  I need to take this estimate and parse the PHP array to find the corresponding plan that the estimate is closest too without going over.  For example, if the number comes out to be 450, I want to get the information about the 500 minute plan.  If it is 501, I want the 1000 minute plan.

 

My problem is that I can't figure out how to get the information I need from the php array.  I know PHP is serverside and Javascript is clientside.  So how would I get the results I need?  Is there a way to convert the php array into something I can use with the javascript?

 

Thanks for any help!

[Ken2k7]

AJAX

[dfowler]

AJAX

Well, I don't know any AJAX; so I think I'm screwed.  Can anybody help?  Here is the code I am using to get the plans array:

$xml = simplexml_load_file("xml/plans.xml");
foreach($xml->$_SESSION['product']->plans->$term->children() as $q) {
foreach($q->children() as $p=>$k) {
	if($p == 'minutes') {
		$tag = trim($k);
	}
	$signupPlans2[$tag][$p] = trim($k);
	if($p == 'type'){
		$tag = "";
	}
}
}

 

And here is the javascript to calculate the total number of minutes:

function calculate() {
var t2 = document.getElementById('textfield2').value;
var t3 = document.getElementById('textfield3').value;
var t4 = document.getElementById('textfield4').value;
var total = t2 * t3 * t4;
document.getElementById('total').innerHTML = total;
document.getElementById('step2').style.display = "block";
}