$command = " php script.php ";
$pid = exec("nohup $command > /dev/null 2>&1 & echo $!");

//query the database for process id
$query = "SELECT pid FROM `daemons` WHERE `pid` = '2013' LIMIT 1";
$result = mysql_query($query);
$pid = mysql_result($result, 0, 'pid');
//check if the process is running
exec("ps $pid", $pState);
if((count($pState) >= 2) && !empty($pid))
{
echo "RUNNING";
}
else
{
echo "INACTIVE";
}

//check if the process from the database is running
exec("ps $pid", $pState);
if((count($pState) >= 2))
{
//if the process is running, kill it
exec("kill $pid");
//update database row with an empty process id
}