PL/SQL Package: DBMS_ALERT

Notification of a database event.
Rather than write code that continually loops to see if an event has occured, let the event fire a trigger that in turn runs your code (asynchronous)

Subprocedures:

REGISTER     Receive messages from an alert. 

REMOVE       Disable notification from an alert. 

REMOVEALL    Remove all alerts for this session
             from the registration list. 

SET_DEFAULTS Set the polling interval. 

SIGNAL       Signal an alert (send message to registered sessions). 

WAITANY      Wait timeout seconds to receive alert message
             from an alert registered for session. 

WAITONE      Wait timeout seconds to receive message
             from named alert. 

For full documentation of the packaged procedures above see the Oracle Manual:
"Oracle9i Supplied PL/SQL Packages and Types Reference"
or the book Oracle Built in Packages by Steven Feuerstein et al

Every single day in America, at least 8 children are killed by gun violence - Michael Moore

Related Packages: 

DBMS_PIPE