DRESS: diagnostic repair expert system shell

A diagnostic-repair expert-system shell (DRESS) specifically tailored for interactive diagnostic repair applications is presented. DRESS has grown out of an ongoing project involving the development of an expert system for the maintenance of the DMS family of digital switches. The architecture of DRESS, its man-machine interface, some initial results of its use in different domains, and plans for its future evolution are described. Although still in an experimental stage, initial results of applying the shell to several applications confirm the generic nature of the shell.<>