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.

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 method of manufacturing process modeling based on activity network for large-sized and complex products

Simulation technique is an efficient approach to realize the planning and scheduling of manufacturing process of products. An appropriate and efficient manufacturing process model is the basis and key of manufacturing process simulation. By analyzing the features of large-sized and complex products, a method of manufacturing process modeling based on activity network is presented and a mapping algorithm of translating BOM/BOP into the manufacturing process model is designed in detail.

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.

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.

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 Modeling Method of Virtual Ship Assembly

A new method of virtual ship assembly modeling which integrates ship three-dimensional design and ship construction planning was described in this paper. A workflow model of simulation modeling based on the virtual ship assembly process was also established; furthermore, a method of information transformation between the ship three-dimensional design and ship construction plan was formulated. To meet the requirements of information sharing between different systems in the ship virtual assembly, a simulation database was created by using the software engineering design method and the relational data model. With the application of this database, the information of ship three-dimensional design, construction planning, and virtual assembly can be integrated into one system. Subsequently, this new method was applied as a tool to simulate the virtual assembly of a ship, and the results guarantee its rationality and reliability.

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.

A Novel Verification Approach of Workflow Schema

A workflow schema is an abstract description of the business processed by workflow model, and plays a critical role in analyzing, executing and reorganizing business processes. The verification issue on the correctness of complicated workflow schemas is difficult in the field of workflow. We make an intensive study of it in this paper. We present here local errors and schema logic errors （global errors） in workflow schemas in detail, and offer some constraint rules trying to avoid schema errors during modeling. In addition, we propose a verification approach based on graph reduction and graph spread, and give the algorithm. The algorithm is implemented in a workflow prototype system e-ScopeWork.

Application of workflow technology for workshop scheduling

This paper attempts to solve the complexity of scheduling problems and meet the requirement of the ever-changing manufacturing environment. In this paper, a new Workflow-Based Scheduling System (WBSS) is proposed. The integration of Workflow Management System (WfMS) and rule-based scheduler provides us an effective way of generating a task-sheet according to the states of system and the scheduled objects. First, the definition of workflow model for scheduling is proposed, and following are the architecture and mechanism of the proposed WBSS. At last, an application is given to show how the established system works.

A Three-Layer Model for Business Processes-Process Logic,Case Semantics and Workflow Management

Workflow management aims at the controlling, monitoring, optimizing and supporting of business processes. Well designed formal models will facilitate such management since they provide explicit representations of business processes as the basis for computerized analysis, verification and execution. Petri Nets have been recognized as the most suitable candidate for workflow modeling, and as such, formal models based on Petri Nets have been proposed, among them WF-net by Aalst is the most popular one. But WF-net has turned out to be conceptually chaotic as will be illustrated in this paper with an example from Aalst＇s book. This paper proposes a series of models for the description and analysis of business processes at conceptually different hierarchical layers. Analytic goals and methods at these layers are also discussed. The underlying structure, shared by all these models, is SYNCHRONIZER, which is designed with the guidance of synchrony theory of GNT （General Net Theory） and serves as the conceptual foundation of workflow formal models. Structurally, synchronizers connect tasks to form a whole while dynamically synchronizers control tasks to achieve synchronization.