Lightweight Workflow Engine Design Based On Relational Database

The workflow is a computerized model which reflects the business process, and it is also a business model which can be carried out by the workflow management system, setting up with the purpose of accomplishing the integration and automation of the management process under the advanced computer circumstances. Workflow engine is the core of background in Workflow Management System(WFMS). Designing a well workflow engine is the key to realize a WFMS. According to workflow process models built by modeling tools,workflow engine can promote the execution of workflow processes and assign tasks to relevant people. Usability and efficiency of WFMS can be advanced effectively. The workflow engine offers series of common services for the management systems with the purpose of bringing all kinds of management systems to be applied concretely.By discussing the weakness of flexibility and cooperation in WFMS at present and analyzing the workflow standards issued by WFMC,this dissertation proposes a new workflow engine based on Relational Database and takes some deep research. The main contents of research in this dissertation are as follow:1) Analyze the current status and the shortage of workflow development by introducing the workflow technologies detailed,which draws the demarcation of concerned issues in research.2) Propose a new lightweight workflow engine based on Relational Database,introduce the framework of engine and the workflow models support by this architecture. Not only realize the basic functions of workflow models, engine can also support an inherited architecture of workflow models.3) Obtain from general business service demand, abstract the object the workflow, analysis logical relations between them, compose workflow model, proposes a system structure and carry on the module division, the database design and the class design. Finally use the J2EE technology, make the backstage database with MSSQLSERVER2000, make the development kit with Jbuilder9.0, make the edition control with VSS and realize the development of the workflow engine.4) Introduce the solution of exception handling of the workflow .