A document administration system which generates an alert if a response is not filed on time and generates reliability data based on document age.

摘要

A method for managing documents by means of a computer system includes the steps of recording an expected return-time for each document issued to a party external to the computer system. In the event that the return of the document from the external party is not entered into the computer system by the expected return-time then the computer system issues an operator alert so that an operator may take steps to recover the document. In a preferred embodiment each document has associated with it a time dependent reliability parameter indicating a reliability time-frame. Documents issued outside the reliability time-frame are printed with a warning that the veracity of the data contained in the document is doubtful.