Showing papers on "Process architecture published in 2021"

A Compositional Approach for Complex Event Pattern Modeling and Transformation to Colored Petri Nets with Black Sequencing Transitions

Abstract: Prioritized Colored Petri Nets (PCPNs) are a well-known extension of plain Petri nets in which transitions can have priorities and the tokens on the places carry data information. In this paper, we propose an extension of the PCPN model with black sequencing transitions (BPCPN). This extension allows us to easily model the ordered firing of the same transition using an ordered set of tokens on one of its precondition places. Black sequencing transitions are then presented as a shorthand notation in order to model the processing of a flow of events, represented by one of their precondition places. We then show how black sequencing transitions can be encoded into PCPNs, and their application to model Complex Event Processing (CEP), defining a compositional approach to translate some of the most relevant event pattern operators. We have developed MEdit4CEP-BPCPN, an extension of the MEdit4CEP tool, to provide tool support for this novel technique, thus allowing end users to easily define event patterns and obtain an automatic translation into BPCPNs. This can, in turn, be transformed into a corresponding PCPN, and then be immediately used in CPN Tools. Finally, a health case study concerning the monitoring of pregnant women is considered to illustrate how the event patterns are created and how the BPCPN and PCPN models are obtained by using the MEdit4CEP-BPCPN tool.

Modeling and Analysis of Three Properties of Mobile Interactive Systems Based on Variable Petri Nets.

Abstract: Due to the mobility and frequent disconnections, the correctness of mobile interaction systems, such as mobile robot systems and mobile payment systems, are often difficult to analyze. This paper introduces three critical properties of systems, called system connectivity, interaction soundness and data validity, and presents a related modeling and analysis method, based on a kind of Petri nets called VPN. For a given system, a model including component nets and interaction structure nets is constructed by using VPNs. The component net describes the internal process of each component, while the interaction structure net reflects the dynamic interaction between components. Based on this model, three properties are defined and analyzed. The case study of a practical mobile payment system shows the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Developing Business Process Architecture at Poland’s Ministry of Finance. An Uneasy Journey Toward BPM

Abstract: (a) Situation faced: In the period from 2011 to 2019, Poland’s Ministry of Finance undertook five initiatives aimed at adopting BPM and directing the Ministry on process-oriented management. Each of the five approaches involved identifying and modeling business processes to develop business process architecture. The architecture of the Ministry’s processes presents the process landscape and is the starting point for implementing the full BPM life cycle. BPM initiatives coincided with the reform of the Ministry, which sought to form a new unit, the National Revenue Administration. The reform required changes in organizational structures and responsibilities, and the architecture of business processes was to be its foundation. (b) Action taken: In each of five approaches to developing a process architecture, the Ministry began by identifying processes and then modeling selected processes. Management and supporting process roles were also defined, along with the scope of tasks and responsibility for the processes. However, the practical implementation did not take place because the first two initiatives were stopped by decision-makers for lack of financing. In the third and fourth approaches, the to-be versions of the architecture were created, although none were implemented and none went beyond extensive documentation. In the last approach, the newly established Business Process Architecture Division started to develop the architecture based on proven best practices, such as the APQC framework. (c) Results achieved: Each of the succession of approaches brought the Ministry closer to understanding the essence of process-oriented management and gradually raised process awareness among employees and decision-makers. At the same time, each of the initiatives generally took the same path toward BPM from the outset and encountered obstacles typical of the public sector’s adopting BPM. A major achievement was the establishment of organizational units that were responsible for BPM adoption and that involved experienced and knowledgeable employees. Of significance was the slow and gradual breaking down of barriers related to the characteristics of the public sector. An important result was understanding the need to use proven best practices. (d) Lessons learned: We learned how (not) to develop business process architecture in a large government institution. The case of the Ministry identified a research gap regarding the shaping of business process architecture for public sector organizations but also highlighted the lack of practical experience in this area. In addition, we verified the list of key success factors for adopting BPM in a government institution, thus bridging a research gap in a modest way. Finally, we drew conclusions about the barriers and restrictions associated with the adoption of BPM in public sector organizations, confirming the need to develop research on this topic.

Articulations and Products of Transition Systems and their Applications to Petri Net Synthesis.

Abstract: In order to speed up the synthesis of Petri nets from labelled transition systems, a divide and conquer strategy consists in defining decompositions of labelled transition systems, such that each component is synthesisable iff so is the original system. Then corresponding Petri Net composition operators are searched to combine the solutions of the various components into a solution of the original system. The paper presents two such techniques, which may be combined: products and articulations. They may also be used to structure transition systems, and to analyse the performance of synthesis techniques when applied to such structures.

The Endokernel: Fast, Secure, and Programmable Subprocess Virtualization.

Abstract: Commodity applications contain more and more combinations of interacting components (user, application, library, and system) and exhibit increasingly diverse tradeoffs between isolation, performance, and programmability. We argue that the challenge of future runtime isolation is best met by embracing the multi-principle nature of applications, rethinking process architecture for fast and extensible intra-process isolation. We present, the Endokernel, a new process model and security architecture that nests an extensible monitor into the standard process for building efficient least-authority abstractions. The Endokernel introduces a new virtual machine abstraction for representing subprocess authority, which is enforced by an efficient self-isolating monitor that maps the abstraction to system level objects (processes, threads, files, and signals). We show how the Endokernel can be used to develop specialized separation abstractions using an exokernel-like organization to provide virtual privilege rings, which we use to reorganize and secure NGINX. Our prototype, includes a new syscall monitor, the nexpoline, and explores the tradeoffs of implementing it with diverse mechanisms, including Intel Control Enhancement Technology. Overall, we believe sub-process isolation is a must and that the Endokernel exposes an essential set of abstractions for realizing this in a simple and feasible way.

Coverability, Termination, and Finiteness in Recursive Petri Nets.

Abstract: In the early two-thousands, Recursive Petri nets have been introduced in order to model distributed planning of multi-agent systems for which counters and recursivity were necessary. Although Recursive Petri nets strictly extend Petri nets and context-free grammars, most of the usual problems (reachability, coverability, finiteness, boundedness and termination) were known to be solvable by using non-primitive recursive algorithms. For almost all other extended Petri nets models containing a stack, the complexity of coverability and termination are unknown or strictly larger than EXPSPACE. In contrast, we establish here that for Recursive Petri nets, the coverability, termination, boundedness and finiteness problems are EXPSPACE-complete as for Petri nets. From an expressiveness point of view, we show that coverability languages of Recursive Petri nets strictly include the union of coverability languages of Petri nets and context-free languages. Thus we get a more powerful model than Petri net for free.

An adaptive agent-based process model for optimizing innovative design

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to dynamically optimize the process architecture of innovative design. We introduce an adaptive agent-based process model that considers innovative design as a complex adaptive system. This model is executed by a central coordinate agent with the help of activity agents and external agents. Instead of predefining an initial process architecture, we dynamically construct the model by adaptively selecting the design activity. Moreover, we contribute a hybrid algorithm that combines the Monte Carlo simulation and the bat algorithm to evaluate the activity value by considering the technical performance, the project performance and the innovative performance. Finally, we apply the model and the hybrid algorithm to an industrial case, and then analyze the simulation results and associated managerial insights.