Showing papers on "Workflow technology published in 2007"

DECLARE: Full Support for Loosely-Structured Processes

Abstract: Traditional workflow management systems (WFMSs) are not flexible enough to support loosely-structured processes. Furthermore, flexibility in contemporary WFMSs usually comes at a certain cost, such as lack of support for users, lack of methods for model analysis, lack of methods for analysis of past executions, etc. DECLARE is a proto-type of a WFMS that uses a constraint-based process modeling language for the development of declarative models describing loosely-structured processes. In this paper we show how DECLARE can support loosely-structured processes without sacrificing important WFMSs features like user support, model verification, analysis of past executions, changing models at run-time, etc.

IT support for healthcare processes - premises, challenges, perspectives

Abstract: Healthcare processes require the cooperation of different organizational units and medical disciplines. In such an environment optimal process support becomes crucial. Though healthcare processes frequently change, and therefore the separation of the flow logic from the application code seems to be promising, workflow technology has not yet been broadly used in healthcare environments. In this paper we elaborate both the potential and the essential limitations of IT support for healthcare processes. We identify different levels of process support in healthcare, and distinguish between organizational processes and the medical treatment process. To recognize the limitations of IT support we adopt a broad socio-technical perspective based on scientific literature and personal experience. Despite of the limitations we identified, undeniably, IT has a huge potential to improve healthcare quality which has not been explored by current IT solutions. In particular, we indicate how advanced process management technology can improve IT support for healthcare processes.

Workflows For E-Science: Scientific Workflows For Grids

Abstract: This is a timely book presenting an overview of the current state-of-the-art within established projects, presenting many different aspects of workflow from users to tool builders. It provides an overview of active research, from a number of different perspectives. It includes theoretical aspects of workflow and deals with workflow for e-Science as opposed to e-Commerce. The topics covered will be of interest to a wide range of practitioners.

The Triana Workflow Environment: Architecture and Applications

Abstract: In this chapter, the Triana workflow environment is described. Triana focuses on supporting services within multiple environments, such as peer-to-peer (P2P) and the Grid, by integrating with various types of middleware toolkits. This approach differs from that of the last chapter, which gave an overview of Taverna, a system designed to support scientists using Grid technology to conduct in silico experiments in biology. Taverna focuses workflow at the Web services level and addresses concerns of how such services should be presented to its users.

Scientific workflow: a survey and research directions

Abstract: Workflow technologies are emerging as the dominant approach to coordinate groups of distributed services. However with a space filled with competing specifications, standards and frameworks from multiple domains, choosing the right tool for the job is not always a straightforward task. Researchers are often unaware of the range of technology that already exists and focus on implementing yet another proprietary workflow system. As an antidote to this common problem, this paper presents a concise survey of existing workflow technology from the business and scientific domain and makes a number of key suggestions towards the future development of scientific workflow systems.

Multi-objective planning for workflow execution on Grids

Abstract: Utility grids create an infrastructure for enabling users to consume services transparently over a global network. When optimizing workflow execution on utility grids, we need to consider multiple quality of service (QoS) parameters including service prices and execution time. These optimization objectives may be in conflict. In this paper, we have proposed a workflow execution planning approach using multi-objective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs). Our goal was to generate a set of trade-off scheduling solutions according to the users QoS requirements. The alternative trade-off solutions offer more flexibility to users when estimating their QoS requirements of workflow executions. Simulation results show that MOEAs are able to find a range of compromise solutions in a short computational time.

Wings for Pegasus: creating large-scale scientific applications using semantic representations of computational workflows

Abstract: Scientific workflows are being developed for many domains as a useful paradigm to manage complex scientific computations. In our work, we are challenged with efficiently generating and validating workflows that contain large amounts (hundreds to thousands) of individual computations to be executed over distributed environments. This paper describes a new approach to workflow creation that uses semantic representations to describe compactly complex scientific applications in a dataindependent manner, then automatically generates workflows of computations for given data sets, and finally maps them to available computing resources. The semantic representations are used to automatically generate descriptions for each of the thousands of new data products. We interleave the creation of the workflow with its execution, which allows intermediate execution data products to influence the generation of the following portions of the workflow. We have implemented this approach in Wings, a workflow creation system that combines semantic representations with planning techniques. We have used Wings to create workflows of thousands of computations, which are submitted to the Pegasus mapping system for execution over distributed computing environments. We show results on an earthquake simulation workflow that was automatically created with a total number of 24,135 jobs and that executed for a total of 1.9 CPU years.

Scheduling Data-IntensiveWorkflows onto Storage-Constrained Distributed Resources

Abstract: In this paper we examine the issue of optimizing disk usage and of scheduling large-scale scientific workflows onto distributed resources where the workflows are data- intensive, requiring large amounts of data storage, and where the resources have limited storage resources. Our approach is two-fold: we minimize the amount of space a workflow requires during execution by removing data files at runtime when they are no longer required and we schedule the workflows in a way that assures that the amount of data required and generated by the workflow fits onto the individual resources. For a workflow used by gravitational- wave physicists, we were able to improve the amount of storage required by the workflow by up to 57 %. We also designed an algorithm that can not only find feasible solutions for workflow task assignment to resources in disk- space constrained environments, but can also improve the overall workflow performance.

Representation and Structure-Based Similarity Assessment for Agile Workflows

Abstract: The dynamics of the market requires workflow management systems that support agile workflows - workflows which are flexible concerning the adaptation to innovations. This paper presents a case-based approach to representation and index-based retrieval of past workflows in order to give authoring support for adaptation of recent workflow instances. The utility of the presented methods is demonstrated by an experimental evaluation.

System and method for project process and workflow optimization

Abstract: A system and method for process control and management is disclosed Various features and applications of the present invention may be suitably adapted to manage, control or otherwise improve compliance and/or project workflow processing In representative applications, the present invention provides a system and method for control, management, verification, certification and communication of compliance standards, (fig1 )

Workflow management system and method

Abstract: A computerized workflow management method and system to provide operational support for complex multi-step processes is disclosed. The method of workflow management involves creating an underlying database structure for recording the processing steps and other information required for each transaction, entering the necessary setup information by selection from lists of pre-stored information about processing functions, associated workflow events and milestones for the queues, mapping the data structures of the subsystem databases and the workflow management database to provide transparent interfacing and convenient manual entry of data were necessary, displaying for the user the workflow status of all transactions for which he or she is responsible, permitting menu driven initiation of required actions and automatically updating the database records for the universe of deals being managed by the system.

An Adaptive Rescheduling Strategy for Grid Workflow Applications

Abstract: Scheduling is the key to the performance of grid workflow applications. Various strategies are proposed, including static scheduling strategies which map jobs to resources before execution time, or dynamic alternatives which schedule individual job only when it is ready to execute. While sizable work supports the claim that the static scheduling performs better for workflow applications than the dynamic one, it is questioned how a static schedule works effectively in a grid environment which changes constantly. This paper proposes a novel adaptive rescheduling concept, which allows the workflow planner works collaboratively with the run time executor and reschedule in a proactive way had the grid environment changes significantly. An HEFT-based adaptive rescheduling algorithm is presented, evaluated and compared with traditional static and dynamic strategies respectively. The experiment results show that the proposed strategy not only outperforms the dynamic one but also improves over the traditional static one. Furthermore we observed that it performs more efficiently with data intensive application of higher degree of parallelism.

Apparatus, system, and method for presenting project scheduling information in combination with workflow information

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for present project scheduling information in combination with workflow information. The apparatus includes a worksheet pane configured to present a worksheet with task entries for the project, a workflow pane configured to overlay representations of timing, workflow, and dependencies in the project, and a mini map pane illustrating the scope of the workflow pane relative to an overall view of the project. The workflow pane includes a date list, a plurality of task icons, and a plurality of task dependency icons. Beneficially, such an apparatus, system, and method would enable a user to efficiently understand the status of a project and manipulate elements of the project.

Method, apparatus or software for managing a data processing process

Abstract: A method, apparatus and software is disclosed for managing a data processing process in the form of a workflow, where activities in the workflow can use services or sub-processes to complete their task. A policy is associated with such activities to indicate how the data processing process should manage the situation where an activity's performance is not acceptable. This includes a policy for replacing or substituting the service or sub-process.

System and method for synchronized workflow management

Abstract: A workflow manager that offers structure and control over the graphical modeling environment so that the graphical modeling environment is reconfigured in a manner appropriate for a particular workflow is disclosed. The workflow manager of the present invention provides hierarchical task management that is synchronized to the graphical modeling environment. The workflow manager also allows a model designer to navigate a series of steps required to achieve the goal of a particular workflow. An API allows the steps to be customized as required by the end user.

Visualization of workflow in an industrial automation environment

Abstract: A visualization system that generates a visualization of manufacturing operations and corresponding workflow is provided. An interface component receives input concerning displayed objects and information. A context component can detect, infer or determine context information regarding an entity or application. A workflow component binds workflow information to industrial automation manufacturing-related information. A visualization component dynamically generates a visualization from a set of display objects to present to a user that is a function of the received context information, workflow information, and industrial automation manufacturing-related information.

Integrating planning and scheduling in workflow domains

Abstract: One of the main obstacles in applying AI planning techniques to real problems is the difficulty to model the domains. Usually, this requires that people that have developed the planning system carry out the modeling phase since the representation depends very much on a deep knowledge of the internal working of the planning tools. On some domains such as business process reengineering (BPR), there has already been work on the definition of languages that allow non-experts entering knowledge on processes into the tools. We propose here the use of one of such BPR languages to enter knowledge on the organisation processes to be used by planning tools. Then, planning tools can be used to semi-automatically generate business process models. As instances of this domain, we will use the workflow modeling tool shamash, where we have exploded its object oriented structure to introduce the knowledge through its user-friendly interface and, using a translator transform it into predicate logic terms. After this conversion, real models can be automatically generated using a planner that integrates planning and scheduling, IPSS. We present results in a real workflow domain, the telephone installation (TI) domain.

Bite: Workflow Composition for the Web

Abstract: Service composition is core to service oriented architectures. In the Web, mainstream composition is practiced in client-side or server-side mashups, such as providing visual widgets on top of Google Maps results. This paper presents an explicit, workflow based composition model for Web applications called Bite. In contrast with prior attempts to bring workflow capabilities to the Web environment, Bite can deal with data integration as well as interactive, asynchronous workflows with multi-party interactions, and is architected to support protocols currently in use by Web applications. The Bite development model is designed for simplicity and short development cycle by taking a scripting approach to workflow development.

QoS-based scheduling of workflow applications on grids

Abstract: With the advent of Grid and application technologies, scientists and engineers are building more and more complex applications to manage and process large data sets, and execute scientific experiments on distributed resources. Such application scenarios require means for composing and executing complex workflows. Therefore, many efforts have been made towards the development of workflow management systems for Grid computing. In this paper, we propose a QoS-based workflow management system and scheduling algorithm that find the best match between workflow applications and resources while meeting QoS requests. The infrastructure is based on the event condition action (ECA) rules in active database. In none of reported works, the ECA rules haven't been used so far. We also attempt to solve the fault tolerance problem by duplicating delayed tasks using proper rules. Some rules are used for QoS monitoring. We implement the ECA rules in Grid-JQA [1, 2] in order to show that using the rules in the grid environment have better performance. The results of a simulation are provided to evaluate the main idea of the paper.

Peer-to-Peer Based Grid Workflow Runtime Environment of SwinDeW-G

Abstract: Nowadays, grid and peer-to-peer (p2p) technologies have become popular solutions for large- scale resource sharing and system integration. For e- science workflow systems, grid is a convenient way of constructing new services by composing existing services, while p2p is an effective approach to eliminate the performance bottlenecks and enhance the scalability of the systems. However, existing workflow systems focus either on p2p or grid environments and therefore cannot take advantage of both technologies. It is desirable to incorporate the two technologies in workflow systems. SwinDeW-G (Swinburne Decentralised Workflow for Grid) is a novel hybrid decentralised workflow management system facilitating both grid and p2p technologies. It is derived from the former p2p based SwinDeW system but redeveloped as grid services with communications between peers conducted in a p2p fashion. This paper describes the system design and functions of the runtime environment of SwinDeW-G.

Facilitating dynamic flexibility and exception handling for workflows

Abstract: Workflow Management Systems (WfMSs) are used to support the modelling, analysis, and enactment of business processes. The key benefits WfMSs seek to bring to an organisation include improved efficiency, better process control and improved customer service, which are realised by modelling rigidly structured business processes that in turn derive well-defined workflow process instances. However, the proprietary process definition frameworks imposed by WfMSs make it difficult to support (i) dynamic evolution and adaptation (i.e. modifying process definitions during execution) following unexpected or developmental change in the business processes being modelled; and (ii) exceptions, or deviations from the prescribed process model at runtime, even though it has been shown that such deviations are a common occurrence for almost all processes. These limitations imply that a large subset of business processes do not easily translate to the 'system-centric' modelling frameworks imposed. This research re-examines the fundamental theoretical principles that underpin workflow technologies to derive an approach that moves forward from the productionline paradigm and thereby offers workflow management support for a wider range of work environments. It develops a sound theoretical foundation based on Activity Theory to deliver an implementation of an approach for dynamic and extensible flexibility, evolution and exception handling in workflows, based not on proprietary frameworks, but on accepted ideas of how people actually perform their work activities. The approach produces a framework called worklets to provide an extensible repertoire of self-contained selection and exception-handling processes, coupled with an extensible ripple-down rule set. Using a Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA), a selection service provides workflow flexibility and adaptation by allowing the substitution of a task at runtime with a sub-process, dynamically selected from its repertoire depending on the context of the particular work instance. Additionally, an exceptionhandling service uses the same repertoire and rule set framework to provide targeted and multi-functional exception-handling processes, which may be dynamically invoked at the task, case or specification level, depending on the context of the work instance and the type of exception that has occurred. Seven different types of exception can be handled by the service. Both expected and unexpected exceptions are catered for in real time. The work is formalised through a series of Coloured Petri Nets and validated using two exemplary studies: one involving a structured business environment and the other a more creative setting. It has been deployed as a discrete service for the well-known, open-source workflow environment YAWL, and, having a service orientation, its applicability is in no way limited to that environment, but may be regarded as a case study in service-oriented computing whereby dynamic flexibility and exception handling for workflows, orthogonal to the underlying workflow language, is provided. Also, being open-source, it is freely available for use and extension.

Zoom*UserViews: querying relevant provenance in workflow systems

Abstract: In this demonstration, we present the ZOOM*UserView system, and focus on the module which generates a "user view" based on what tasks the user perceives to be relevant in the workflow specification. We will show how user views can be used to reduce the amount of information returned by provenance queries, while focusing on information the user finds relevant. User views are based on the notion of composite tasks, and induce a higher-level specification of a workflow.

Version management in the business process change context

Abstract: The current business endures a fast changing environment, whichdrives organisations to continuously adapt their business processes to newconditions. In this background, the workflow version control plays an importantrole for the change management of business processes. To better handle theversions of evolving workflow process definitions, a new versioning method isintroduced in this paper. To capture the dynamics of the workflow evolvement,we propose a novel version preserving directed graph model to represent therun time evolvement of a workflow process, and devise a series of modificationoperations to characterise workflow updating on the fly. The extraction ofworkflow versions from a version preserving graph is also discussed with twodifferent extraction strategies. Particularly, our method allows the execution ofmultiple workflow instances of different versions within a single graph, andsupports the evolvements initiated by temporary changes.

Management of Medical Workflow

Abstract: Various embodiments provide participants in a medical workflow with an integrated way to interact with a variety of medical information systems. Medical information can be collected from different medical information systems and/or data sources and presented to a user in one or more customized interfaces. Users can interact with the interface(s) and perform tasks associated with a medical workflow.

A process-algebraic approach to workflow specification and refinement

Abstract: This paper describes a process-algebraic approach to specification and refinement of workflow processes. In particular, we model both specification and implementation of workflows as CSP processes. CSP's behavioural models and their respective refinement relations not only enable us to prove correctness properties of an individual workflow process against its behavioural specification but also allows us to design and develop workflow processes compositionally. Moreover, coupled with CSP is an industrial strength automated model checker FDR, which allows behavioural properties of workflow models to be proved automatically. This paper details some CSP models of van der Aalst et al.'s control flow workflow patterns, and illustrates behavioural specification and refinement of workflow systems with a business process scenario.

Context-aware workflow management

Abstract: We describe the CAWE framework for the management of contextaware workflow systems, based on Web Services The framework is based on a hierarchical workflow representation supporting a synthetic and extensible specification of context-sensitive workflows, which can be executed by standard workflow engines We have exploited the CAWE framework to develop a prototype application handling a medical guideline specifying the activities to be performed in order to monitor patients treated with blood thinners

BioWMS: a web-based Workflow Management System for bioinformatics.

Abstract: An in-silico experiment can be naturally specified as a workflow of activities implementing, in a standardized environment, the process of data and control analysis. A workflow has the advantage to be reproducible, traceable and compositional by reusing other workflows. In order to support the daily work of a bioscientist, several Workflow Management Systems (WMSs) have been proposed in bioinformatics. Generally, these systems centralize the workflow enactment and do not exploit standard process definition languages to describe, in order to be reusable, workflows. While almost all WMSs require heavy stand-alone applications to specify new workflows, only few of them provide a web-based process definition tool. We have developed BioWMS, a Workflow Management System that supports, through a web-based interface, the definition, the execution and the results management of an in-silico experiment. BioWMS has been implemented over an agent-based middleware. It dynamically generates, from a user workflow specification, a domain-specific, agent-based workflow engine. Our approach exploits the proactiveness and mobility of the agent-based technology to embed, inside agents behaviour, the application domain features. Agents are workflow executors and the resulting workflow engine is a multiagent system – a distributed, concurrent system – typically open, flexible, and adaptative. A demo is available at http://litbio.unicam.it:8080/biowms . BioWMS, supported by Hermes mobile computing middleware, guarantees the flexibility, scalability and fault tolerance required to a workflow enactment over distributed and heterogeneous environment. BioWMS is funded by the FIRB project LITBIO (Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Technologies in Bioinformatics).