Automated document distribution using AI based workstations and knowledge based servers

An approach is presented to document distribution in a large corporation via a corporate communications system using artificial intelligence and expert system concepts. A document is originated as an electronic file on a user workstation (WS), called the writer. The document is processed by an inference engine in the WS and appends the list of signers and reviewers. The document is then sent to a knowledge base server (KBS), which adds additional information regarding the distribution of the document. The activity of reviewing and signing the documents originated at the user WS. The document is retrieved from the KBS, reviewed by the user, signed, and returned to the KBS for intermediate storage. When the KBS has determined that the document has all the required signatures, the document is sent to the final destination. The system has been demonstrated using a C language implementation on personal computer workstations and a Unix-based KBS.<>