INCA - An Innovative Approach to Constructing Large-Scale Real-Time Expert Systems

This chapter describes the intelligent network controller assistant (INCA), an innovative system that shows that large-scale, real-time expert systems can be developed as a matter of course, on schedule, and with the same degree of reliability expected of conventional data processing systems. In developing this system, several more detailed innovative aspects were introduced. First, real-time performance is necessary for network control, which was achieved using standard (rather than specifically real-time adapted) hardware and operating systems. Second, the fault tolerance of the system is essential for such real-time control; so, INCA incorporates an online backup. Finally and perhaps most importantly, INCA is a new expert system application for a company's core business, with all the risks and visibility that this responsibility exposes INCA to. Therefore, reliability, efficiency, and usability were mandatory; this project could not hide behind descriptions such as " prototype " or " demonstration of principle. " Other