MDAC 2.5 SDK - OLE DB Programmer's Reference
Chapter 1: Overview of OLE DB
OLE DB uses an ActiveX® controls notification model to implement notifications among OLE DB providers and consumers. Notifications are used by groups of cooperating consumers sharing a rowset. All consumers and rowset-generating actions are assumed to be working within the same transaction. Local notifications enable cooperating consumers sharing a rowset to be informed about actions on the rowset performed by their peers.
For example, consider a form containing two data controls, one displaying data in a grid and the other displaying data as a two-dimensional histogram. Both controls receive their data from the same rowset and operate individually as consumers of the rowset. An end user can send an update to the rowset through the grid control. Notifications enable the other control to be informed of this change as it occurs, giving it the opportunity to update the histogram as appropriate and ultimately providing a consistent view of the data within the form.
For more information about notifications, see Chapter 12, "OLE DB Object Notifications."