--- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
+++ b/src/org/dancres/blitz/entry/LongtermOffer.java	Sat Mar 21 11:00:06 2009 +0000
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+package org.dancres.blitz.entry;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import org.dancres.blitz.oid.OID;
+
+/**
+ * In cases where one wishes to repeatedly offer the same entry to a
+ * SearchVisitor, a LongtermOffer can signficiantly reduce overhead and
+ * improve cache utilization.
+ */
+public interface LongtermOffer {
+    /**
+     * @return the type of the entry this offer is associated with
+     */
+    public String getEntryType();
+    public boolean offer(SearchVisitor aVisitor) throws IOException;
+    public void release() throws IOException;
+    public OID getOID();
+}