Research On The Dynamic Modification Strategy Of Flexible Workflow

With the rapid extension of Internet and Intranet, some kinds of software systems have been greatly evolved, especially the Workflow Management System (WfMS). The main intension of WfMS is the automation of procedures where document, information or tasks are passed between participants according to a predefined set of rules to achieve an overall business goal. The flexible WfMS has been a hotspot in the field of research on workflow. The flexible of the WfMS is mainly expressed in dynamic modification about the workflow model to handle the exceptions or optimize the structure of the workflow.A strategy based on mini–operation set has been proposed by research on the flexible requirement of the WfMS. The set include the base operation of the dynamic modification that can be carried out on the workflow model. A dataflow model of the workflow has been proposed. The model expresses the data relation of the activities in the workflow. A rule set which make some restrictions to dynamic modify operations has been proposed based on the dataflow model to assure the working order of WfMS. By restricting the base operation, the rule set can assure the rightness and data consistency of workflow. The verifying method based on the rule set has been proposed.By the research on the flexible strategy of the WfMS, a lightweight WfMS prototype is designed according to the Workflow Reference Model and Architecture that is specified by Workflow Management Coalition. The system implement not only the necessary function of WfMS, but also the interface of dynamic modification. The interface can be called to modify the workflow model and verify the rightness of the modification when WfMS is running. The system has better independence, expansibility and flexibility. It is apt to be integrated into enterprise application. Secondary development can quickly be carried on under the frame of WfMS.