Research on Petri Net Based Modeling and Analyzing Methods for Workflow Process

Workflow management is an important aspect in CSCW at present. The elementary knowledge of workflow process is introduced, the Petri nets based process modeling methodology and basic definitions are provided, and the analysis and verification of structural and behavioral correctness of workflow process are discussed. Finally, the algorithm of verification of process definitions is proposed.

An Effective Approach to Verify the Correctness of Workflow Process Models Based on Petri Net

Along with the extensive use of workflow, analysis methods to verify the correctness of the workflow are becoming more and more important. In the paper, we exploit the verification method based on Petri net for workflow process models which deals with the verification of workflow and finds the potential errors in the process design. Additionally, an efficient verification algorithm is given.

Research on workflow meta model supporting activity based costing

Activity based costing (ABC) is a method which can solve many limitations of the traditional cost systems in manufacturing management. In this paper, we investigate how to integrate ABC with workflow technology, and build a workflow meta model supporting ABC. Firstly, the concept and concept model of activity based costing (ABC) are introduced. Next, the meta model of P -PROCE (Process, Product, Resource, Organization, and Cost & Evaluation) is presented. Then the cost meta model is defined by adding ABC to P -PROCE model. Object constraint language (OCL) is used to express meta model and constraints. Finally, we show an enterprise modeling and simulation tool based on the workflow meta model. We can systematically construct an enterprise model and easily and efficiently conduct simulation. Moreover it enables us to analyze and evaluate business processes and its costs.

Approach for workflow modeling using π-calculus

As a variant of process algebra, π calculus can describe the interactions between evolving processes. By modeling activity as a process interacting with other processes through ports, this paper presents a new approach: representing workflow models using π calculus. As a result, the model can characterize the dynamic behaviors of the workflow process in terms of the LTS (Labeled Transition Semantics) semantics of π calculus. The main advantage of the workflow model's formal semantic is that it allows for verification of the model's properties, such as deadlock free and normal termination. Moreover, the equivalence of workflow models can be checked through weak bisimulation theorem in the π calculus, thus facilitating the optimization of business processes.

Model Checking Workflow Net Based on Petri Net

The soundness is a very important criterion for the correctness of the workflow. Specifying the soundness with Computation Tree Logic （CTL） allows us to verify the soundness with symbolic model checkers. Therefore the state explosion problem in verifying soundness can be overcome efficiently. When the property is not satisfied by the system, model checking can give a counter-example, which can guide us to correct the workflow. In addition, relaxed soundness is another important criterion for the workflow. We also prove that Computation Tree Logic ＊ （CTL ＊ ） can be used to character the relaxed soundness of the workflow.

An Inter-enterprise Workflow Model for Supply Chain and B2B E-commerce

The goals of B2B electronic commerce and supply chain management system are to implement interoperability of independent enterprises, to smooth the information flow between them and to deploy business processes over multiple enterprises. The inherent characteristics of workflow system make it suitable to implement the cross organization management. This paper, firstly, proposes an inter enterprises workflow model based on the agreement to support the construction of supply chain management system and B2B electronic commerce. This model has extended the standard workflow model. After that, an architecture which supports the model has been introduced, especially it details the structure and implementation of interfaces between enterprises.

Research on an Integrated Enterprise Workflow Model

An integrated enterprise workflow model called PPROCE is presented firstly. Then, an enterprise’s ontology established by TOVE and Process Specification Language (PSL) is studied. Combined with TOVE’s partition idea, PSL is extended and new PSL Extensions is created to define the ontology of process, organization, resource and product in the PPROCE model. As a result, PPROCE model can be defined by a set of corresponding formal language. It facilitates the future work not only in the model verification, model optimization and model simulation, but also in the model translation.

A Workflow Authorization Model Based on Credentials

A workflow authorization model based on credentials was proposesed. It can nicely satisfy the features that workflows in actual application should satisfying. This model uses access control list based on task state which nicely ensure synchronizing authorization flow with workflow; specifies authorization policy not only based on user identifiers but also based on user qualifications and characteristics; defines a set of constraint rules for a task and seek the eligible users to execute the task according to the type of each constraint rule which realize dynamic separation of duty; and realizes the access granularity of authorization ranging from objects to specific parts of objects which ensure the least privilege constraints much more better.

Workflow-Based Platform Design and Implementation for Numerical Weather Prediction Models and Meteorological Data Service

In this paper, we present a set of best practices for workflow design and implementation for numerical weather prediction models and meteorological data service, which have been in operation in China Meteorological Administration (CMA) for years and have been proven effective in reliably managing the complexities of large-scale meteorological related workflows. Based on the previous work on the platforms, we argue that a minimum set of guidelines including workflow scheme, module design, implementation standards and maintenance consideration during the whole establishment of the platform are highly recommended, serving to reduce the need for future maintenance and adjustment. A significant gain in performance can be achieved through the workflow-based projects. We believe that a good workflow system plays an important role in the weather forecast service, providing a useful tool for monitoring the whole process, fixing the errors, repairing a workflow, or redesigning an equivalent workflow pattern with new components.

Context-aware Workflow Model for Supporting Composite Workflows

In recent years, several researchers have applied workflow technologies for service automation on ubiquitous compating environments. However, most context-aware workflows do not offer a method to compose several workflows in order to get mare large-scale or complicated workflow. They only provide a simple workflow model, not a composite workflow model. In this paper, the autorhs propose a context-aware workflow model to support composite workflows by expanding the patterns of the existing context-aware wrY：flows, which support the basic woddlow patterns. The suggested workflow model of. fers composite workflow patterns for a context-aware workflow, which consists of various flow patterns, such as simple, split, parallel flows, and subflow. With the suggested model, the model can easily reuse few of existing workflows to make a new workflow. As a result, it can save the development efforts and time of context-aware workflows and increase the workflow reusability. Therefore, the suggested model is expected to make it easy to develop applications related to context-aware workflow services on ubiquitous computing environments.

Modeling workflow using XML and Petri net

Nowadays an increasing number of workflow products and research prototypes begin to adopt XML for representing workflow models owing to its easy use and well understanding for people and machines. However, most of workflow products and research prototypes provide the few supports for the verification of XML-based workflow model, such as free-deadlock properties, which is essential to successful application of workflow technology. In this paper, we tackle this problem by mapping the XML-based workflow model into Petri-net, a kind of well-known formalism for modeling, analyzing and verifying system. As a result, the XML-based workflow model can be automatically verified with the help of general Petri-net tools, such as DANAMICS. The presented approach not only enables end users to represent workflow model with XML-based modeling language, but also the correctness of model can be ensured, thus satisfying the needs of business processes.

A New Methodology for Process Modeling of Workflows

Workflow-based systems are typically said to lead to better use of staff and better management and productivity. The first phase in building a workflow-based system is capturing the real-world process in a conceptual representation suitable for the following phases of formalization and implementation. The specification may be in text or diagram form or written in a formal language. This paper proposes a flow-based diagrammatic methodology as a tool for workflow specification. The expressiveness of the method is appraised though its ability to capture a workflow-based application. Here we show that the proposed conceptual diagrams are able to express situations arising in practice as an alternative to tools currently used in workflow systems. This is demonstrated by using the proposed methodology to partial build demo systems for two government agencies.

Generation of Interactive Questionnaires Using YAWL-based Workflow Models

A concept is introduced in this article which has strong practical impact for computer aided system configuration. System configuration is a cumbersome and fault sensitive task while setting up systems in a broad range of business applications like ERP （enterprise resource planning） and other workflow-systems. Given a generic process or workflow model in YAWL-notation （yet another workflow language） or any other process modeling language like business process model and notation or WFMC （workflow management coalition）, it could be stated that, by using a set of reduction rules as introduced, it is possible to generate a hierarchically structured tree of sub graphs of the workflow graph-representation. According to the notation used, authors call these sub graphs facts. The tree structure of the graph-representation on one hand and the logical relation between the branches and leafs of the tree on the other can be utilized to create a set of constraints and dependencies among the single facts. Some researchers showed that the nested branches can be associated to （predefined） questions with respect to the configuration of a workflow management system, for instance an ERP-application. They presented an algorithm which dynamically sorts the questions and answers in a maximum efficient configuration path, while working through the corresponding questionnaire. By combining the different elements as facts, constraints on questions, and configuration space, it is thus possible to algorithmically generate the efficient structured and interactive questionnaire for the configuration of workflow systems and algorithmically check the consistency （dead lock free, free of synchronization structural conflict） of the underlying workflow model. The concept was tested in the prototype of the interactive questionnaire for configuration of the web-service based ERP-Application Posity.

企业协同知识管理工作流模型研究——基于action workflow方法

在借鉴问题解决导向的企业知识管理的过程描述基础上,指出企业协同知识管理过程是以协同知识库为核心的协同问题解决过程,并结合企业协同知识管理的工作流建模要求,论述了action work-flow工作流建模方法的特点,以及action workflow方法在企业协同知识管理中的应用。

可视化工作流建模工具WorkFlowEditor设计与实现

针对企业业务过程建模的需求,分析目前典型的工作流过程建模方法,并结合工作流管理联盟提出的XPDL过程定义语言,设计一种可视化工作流建模工具Work Flow Editor。依据"问题分离"原则,对WFMC的工作流过程定义元模型进行了改进,使建立的模型具有易修改、元素可重用等特点。针对建模元素可扩展性的需求,通过定义建模元素类的通用接口和设计一种动态加载方案,在很好地方便企业用户定制建模元素的同时又不需要修改建模工具。针对多任务多分支环境下复杂的流程编辑问题,设计了一种有限状态机(FSM)模型,实现了复杂编辑动作的实时性处理和灵活控制,降低了时间复杂度,并且实现模块化编程,很好地实现了流程的建模。

Emergency Tasks Planning Based on Formal Modeling of Emergency Plan and HTN Planning System SHOP2

A theoretical approach of ordered emergency tasks generation is proposed for dealing with a specific emergency event rapidly, exactly and effectively. According to the general principles of an emergency plan developed to response to an emergency management, a workflow model is employed to complete the formal modeling of concrete emergency plan firstly. Then the HTN planning system SHOP2 is introduced, the transformation method of domain knowledge from emergency domain to SHOP2 domain is studied. At last, the general procedure to solve the emergency decision prob-lems and to generate executive emergency tasks is set up drawing support from SHOP2 planning system, which will combine the principles (or knowledge) of emergency plan and the real emergency situations.

Artifact-centric workflow management system

Data-centric modeling approach for workflow specification and design has received considerable attention from research and development communities.An architecture for a workflow management system named EZFLOWS was outlined.Key components and research issues associated with the development of EZFLOWS were discussed.

基于WorkFlow的MAGIS平台网络服务流程

工作流模型是对过程逻辑及其业务活动依赖关系进行抽象表示,它已成为当前工作流建模研究的重点。将工作流技术引入到海洋大气分析,设计并实现了一种树形工作流模型,依此来完成海洋大气地理信息平台中的各种分析、可视化方法的调度控制工作,取得了不错的效果。