The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 24, 1998
Filed:
May. 02, 1996
Peter Wallack, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Oracle Corporation, Redwood Shores, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for retrieving and displaying detail data is provided which allows a user to dictate the timing of detail data retrieval. Upon selection of a master record, if a user indicates that he wishes to immediately view the detail data associated with the master record, and if the window that actually displays that data is currently visible to the user, then the detail data is automatically retrieved and displayed. Conversely, if the user indicates that he does not need to view the detail data, and if the window that would actually display such data is currently visible to the user, then no detail data is retrieved or displayed until the user affirmatively requests it (that is, 'activates' the master record). In all cases, if the window that will actually display such detail data is not visible to the user, the data in that window is not retrieved. Thus, detail data is retrieved and displayed only when necessary (i.e. the user wishes to view it), and retrieval is automatic if the user wishes it to be. Hence, an optimal balance is struck between performance and convenience.