支持工作流动态变化的过程元模型

支持动态可变并具备灵活性是人们在实际应用中对工作流管理系统提出的新要求,已有的相关研究工作都集中在对工作流中发生变化的某个具体问题上.提出了支持动态特性的工作流过程元模型,可以为动态过程模型的设计提供指导.从时间和工作流组成的过程级别两个角度分析了其动态特性的表现,扩展了工作流管理联盟的工作流元模型.扩展后的过程元模型在工作流的建立阶段力求将动态特性进行描述和定义,在工作流执行阶段可以根据已定义的动态属性,处理过程的变化情况.基于该元模型,工作流管理系统既具有灵活性,又有利于变化控制操作.

A Process Meta-Model Supporting Dynamic Change of Workflow

Supporting dynamic changes and flexibility is required when workflow management systems are employed. Related research work are all focused on some special changing issues. A process meta-model is proposed to guide the design of workflow process model. The process meta-model supports dynamic changes of workflow process. Its dynamic characteristics of workflow process from the points of view of time and process levels are surveyed, and the workflow meta model proposed by workflow management coalition is extended. This process meta-model enables the dynamic characteristics to be described in build-time and enables the changes of a process to be handled with these pre-defined characteristics. Based on this meta-model, a workflow management system possesses the flexibility without losing the control of workflow process.