System and method for merging remote and local data in a single user interface

Abstract

The system comprises a local database; a user interface; a remote access engine, communicatively coupled to a network, the user interface, and the local database; and a rendering engine, communicatively coupled to the remote access engine. The user interface receives a data search request. The remote access engine searches for and retrieves, from a remote database communicatively coupled to the network and the local database, data corresponding to the received search request. The rendering engine displays the received data from the remote database and the local database.

1 : A method, comprising:
 receiving a data search request specifying at least one database to search for data;   searching in a local database, upon indication that the local database is included in the at least one database specified in the data search request, for each data entry in the local database fulfilling requirements of the data search request;   querying via a wireless connection a remote database manager to search in a remote database, upon indication that the remote database is included in the at least one database specified in the data search request, for each data entry in the remote database fulfilling the requirements of the data search request;   determining if receiving the data corresponding to the data search request would exceed a threshold of an amount of data that can be displayed simultaneously on a display of a handheld device;   refining the data search request if the determining indicates that receiving the data corresponding to the data search request would exceed the threshold;   retrieving, from the local database, data entries found in the searching fulfilling the requirements of the data search request;   receiving, from the remote database via the wireless connection, data entries found in the querying fulfilling the requirements of the data search request; and   merging the retrieved and received data entries.