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Transcript of 2000 09 dh,mm,mts,mz m (xml world 2000) wf-xml tutorial
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 1
XML-based standards
for B2B Process Integration
David Hollingsworth, ICL
Mike Marin, FileNET Corp.
Marc-Thomas Schmidt, IBM UK Ltd.
Michael zur Muehlen, University of Muenster
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 2
Overview
Process Automation and the WfMC
Standards
Wf-XML
Applications
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 3
Process Automation and the WfMC
David Hollingsworth
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 4
Agenda
Workflow, Process Automation and business
integration considerations
Background on the Workflow Management
Coalition
Process Interoperability Models
WfMC Standards & ongoing work
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 5
What is Workflow
The automation of a business process, in whole
or part, during which documents, information or
tasks are passed from one participant* to
another for action, according to a set of
procedural rules.
*participant = resource (human or machine)
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 6
Process Automation
Overview
Applications
& IT Tools
Users
Administrator
/ Supervisor
Distributed Infrastructure Environment
Work
Presentation Application
Launch
Process Execution
Process
Definition
Business Process Analysis,
Modelling & Definition Tools Process Design
& Definition
Process
Designer
Process changes
Workflow Management System
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 7
The Process Definition
1. Activity Network - Nodes & Transitions
A1
A2
A4
A11
A7
A5
A6
A10 A8 A3
A9
2. Activity Definitions
• Resource Requirement
• Work Items
• Applications
3. Data Definitions
• Workflow Relevant Data
• (Application Specific Data)
• Options for Sequential, Parallel & Conditional paths
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 8
Production & Ad-hoc Workflow
A loose distinction is sometimes drawn between
Production Workflow
– in which most of the procedural rules are defined in
advance
and
Ad-hoc workflow
– in which the procedural rules may be modified or created
during the operation of the process.
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 9
Autonomous & Embedded
Workflow Products
Autonomous
– Freestanding independent software package providing workflow
functionality
– Integration with different application systems (desktop or server)
which handle processing of the elementary workflow activities
Embedded
– Workflow-functionality is part of the (application) software system
(ERP, DM, PPC etc.)
– Controls the sequence of elementary functions of the system
within the application
Differentiation: workflow-enabled versus workflow-based
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 10
Business Integration
Requirements
Process
Roles &
Responsibilities
Information Organisation
Access &
Ownership
Permissions
Business Support
Systems
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 11
Wider Integration Issues
Distributed Systems
Infrastructure
Process
Model
Information
Model
Organisation
Model
Common
desktop
access
E-commerce Security
& Audit
Legacy Systems
Directory
Services
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 12
Workflow - Past & Future
First generation - disjoint applications, human
interface
– Call Centre management
– Correspondence handling
– Claims authorisation, etc
Second generation - infrastructure, broker /
agent interfaces:
– E-process support (B2Anything)
– Enterprise Application Integration
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 13
Founded in 1993, to develop & promote
workflow integration capability
Non profit-making, open to all
Working arrangements with AIIM, OMG and IETF
Current membership is c. 220, made up of:
Vendor Integrator/VAR
Academic &
Research
Analyst / Consultant
Europe
US / Canada
Japan / Asia
S. America User
WfMC Background
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 14
The Workflow Reference Model
Process
Definition Tools
Administration
& Monitoring Tools
Interface 1
Interface 4
- Interoperability
Interface 5 Workflow Enactment Service Other Workflow
Enactment Service(s)
Worklist
Handler
Interface 3 Interface 2
Invoked
Applications
Tool Agent
Process Definition Import/Export
Client
Apps
Legacy,
Desktop, etc
Workflow
Engine(s) Workflow
Engine(s)
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 15
Process Definition Interchange
Purpose
– Exchange of info between BPR tools, workflow systems, process
definition repositories
Process Definition Meta-Model
– Defines objects, attributes & relationships
– Core Set plus extensible attributes
WPDL / XML
– Syntax for encoding the process definition
Process Definition Manipulation APIs
– APIs for reading & writing object & attribute data
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 16
Client Application Interface
Purpose
– To allow applications portability & re-use
APIs to support
– Process & Activity Control
– Worklist Handling
– Supervisory Process & Activity Control
– Process Definition manipulation
Language Support
– “C”, IDL & OLE (V2),
WAPI Specification
– V1 - Published Nov 95, now at V1.4
– V2 - 1998 (joint OMG / WfMC spec)
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 17
Applications Invocation
Purpose
– To provide a common framework for 3rd parties to integrate other
industry application APIs & services
– To support an interface to access legacy applications
APIs for use by Workflow Engine or Worklist Handler
– Connect/Disconnect
– Invoke Application, Request Status, Terminate
Status
– Included in WAPI V2
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 18
Applications Interoperability
Purpose
– To allow a business process to be implemented over two or more workflow systems
Interchange protocol
– Abstract (functional) specification in IDL for nested & chained subprocesses
– Binding specification for Internet Mail using MIME
– CORBA version included in OMG submission
Status
– Full Specification released Q1 97, now with abstract spec, MIME binding and Wf-XML versions all at current level.
– IDL & CORBA version provided in OMG proposal
– XML version released Q1 2000
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 19
Administration & Monitoring
Purpose
– To allow consistent administration across diverse systems
Audit specifications
– Audit event identification, formats & recording
– Formal released as full specification Q1 97
WAPI - Administrative APIs
– Group operations on Processes & Activities Instances
– Status retrieval - Process & Activity instances
– Operations on Process Definitions
Administration - wider aspects
– - Draft spec of admin functions (audit retrieval APIs and monitoring policy controls)
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 20
Process Interoperability
Scope may be:
– Local / Departmental
– Enterprise
– Inter-Enterprise
Style may be:
– Sub-process - hierarchic or chained
– Parallel synchronised
Purpose:
– EAI
– Web integration, B2B, B2C, etc
– Trading Frameworks / Hub
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 21
Distributing the Business Process
C
B
Process A
Sub-Process B
? Sub-Process C
Organisation A
Organisation C
Organisation B
export
Definition Execution
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 22
1. Sub-Process Interoperability Model
Workflow Enactment Service
#1
WAPI
Workflow Enactment Service
#2
Initiate
Sub-process
Return
WAPI
Workflow Enactment Service
#3
WAPI
C2 C1
A1
A3
A2
A5
A4
B3
B1 B2
B4
C3 C4
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 23
2. Parallel Synchronised
Interoperability Model
C2 C1 C3 C4
A2 A1 A3 A4
B2 B1 B3 B4
Synchpoint across processes
Workflow Enactment Service
#1
WAPI
Workflow Enactment Service
#2
WAPI
Sync. Event
optional
Confirm
• To support inter-process dependencies
• Uses Synch Event and optional Confirm
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 24
Process Naming & Context
Activities may be atomic, sub-process call, or in-line
block
A sub-process inherits characteristics from its process
definition and has its own name space apart from “Root
Process Id” (from initiating process)
A sub-process call may be specified as synchronous or
asynchronous, binding prefixed or late
An in-line block operates within the name space and
characteristics of its local process
Activity and Transition Ids are unique within a process
definition
Resource naming may use an Organisational Model -
typically unique to a workflow enactment service
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 25
The Supply Chain Process Model
Transportation
Company
International Documentation
Distributor Manufacturer
Transportation Company
Retailer
1
Schedule Shipment Ship Order
Confirm Order
Receive Order
Schedule Receipt
Place Order
Receive Goods
DRP
Update DRP
5
Q A Update Inventory
Ship Order
Receive Goods Inventory
Replenish Inventory
Prepare Payment
4
2
Update Inventory
Release Payment
A/P
MRP Place Order
Dispatch Truck
Confirm Transport
Determine International
Prepare Cross Border
Documentation
Request Vehicle
3
Third Party
Warehouse Company Inventory
Receive Order
Update Inventory
Ship Order
Order
Order Acknowledgment
Transport Confirmation
Advance Shipment Notice
Advance
Shipment Notice
Replenishment
Advance Shipment Notice
Order
Transport Request
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 26
Specifications - Context Diagram
Process Definition
Process Definition
Tool / Task
Process Instance
Participant
Work Item
Process Instance
History
creates /
modifies
is instantiated by
Worklist
Handler
create, destroy modify
Organisational Model
generates may invoke
create &
destroy
maintain
audit
trail
may
refer to
may
refer to
inherits
properties
processed by
presented
for action by
may
invoke
Worklist
Handler I/F
provides invocation context
Application
Invocation I/F
Process Definition
Interface
Workflow Enactment
Service
Audit Specifications
External
S/W object
Application
Tool Agent
may use
may set
Workflow
Relevant Data
Workflow
Manager
1. Workflow Manager may be distributed, but is
assumed to maintain consistent internal state
2. Scope of a Process Definition is the enactment service
Process & Activity
Control / Interoperability
Interface
Resource Model
Interface
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 27
WfMC - Specifications
Reference Model (1995)
Glossary (1994, 1996, 1999)
Workflow APIs
– “C” (1995)
– IDL / CORBA (1998)
Interoperability Protocol & Bindings
– MIME (Email) (1995)
– IDL / CORBA (1998)
– Wf-XML (April 2000)
Audit specification (1997, 1999)
Process Definition Import/Export Specification
– WPDL (1999)
– UML/XML (planned Q4 2000)
OMG Submission (Object Model & IDL, 1998)
– Ratified 1999
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 28
Ongoing Work Areas
Security
Events & parallel synchronised interoperability
standards
Multiple concurrency workflows (EDI batches)
XML integration (process definition,
frameworks, data models, etc)
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 29
http://www.wfmc.org
email: [email protected]
Contacts & Further Information
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 30
Process Integration
XML Standardization Initiatives
Mike Marin
FileNet
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 31
Introduction
XML is the universal language of B2B
Today ad-hoc implementations of B2B abound
– Based on data interchange
– High development cost
Business start looking into standards
– Decrease cost
– Decrease risk
– Increase potential partners
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 32
XML Standards
Explosion of XML standards
– XML is becoming the language of standardization
Overlapping functionality
– Some industry segments have competing XML standards
Emergence of for-profit standardization organizations
It will take time for the dust to settle
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 33
Classifying B2B Standards
Transport level
Vertical market vocabularies
Specific functionality area
Framework based
Process based
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 34
Transport level
Moving XML content around
Examples
– XML-RPC
• Request/Response
– Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP)
• Unidirectional messages
– Web Distributed Data Exchange (WDDX)
• Exchanging structured data in a generic, cross-platform way
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 35
Vertical market vocabularies
XML standardization for specific industries
XML Repositories
– XML.org
– BizTalk.org
Examples
– Chemical Markup Language (CML)
– Text Encoding Initiative (TEI)
– Mathematical Markup Language (MathML)
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 36
Specific functionality area
XML standardization of specific business functions
Examples
– eBIS-XML
• Order and invoice interchange
– iCalendar
• Calendaring and scheduling
– Directory services markup language (DSML)
• Based on LDAP
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 37
Framework based
Formalized exchange of XML content
Examples
– BizTalk
– RosettaNet
– ICE
– ebXML
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 38
BizTalk
Horizontally oriented
– Works with vertical market vocabularies that adhere to the
BizTalk conventions
BizTalk framework is based on SOAP
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 39
RosettaNet
Vertically oriented
– Information technology (IT) supply chain standardization
– Electronic components (EC) supply chain standardization
Some process
– Predefined partner interface process (PIP)
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 40
ICE
Horizontally oriented
– Work with vertical market vocabularies
Syndicator/Subscriber model
– Request/Response model
No process concept
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 41
ebXML
Horizontally oriented
– Based on a repository
Goal is to create a single global electronic
market
Compatible with EDI
Some process concepts
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 42
Process based
Business process oriented
– General workflow functionality is horizontal
Example
– Wf-XML
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 43
Summary
A crowded field
Research your vertical market first
Talk with the partners you intent to engage
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 44
Wf-XML Interoperability Standard
Marc-Thomas Schmidt
IBM UK, Business Integration Architecture
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 45
Wf-XML Scenario
Enable interaction between Requesters and Providers of ‘workflow-type’ Business Services
– Standardise minimum set of operations for managing interactions with potentially long running services
Service Requester
– Requests service to be performed
– Inquires about status of execution
Service Provider
– Processes service requests
– Informs requester on status of the request
One Party can play both roles
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 46
Wf-XML Scenario Illustrated
Do It
Done It Query &
Control
Requester Provider
Party A Party B
Requester Provider
Party C
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 47
Multi-Party Interactions
Party A
Party C
Party B
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 48
Services Repository
Provider advertises service
– Service interface definition, including in/out data, potential
transports, Quality of Service, service constraints, ...
Requester selects service matching their needs
– Required business function, requested Quality of Service, ... Trading Partner Agreement
Interaction Partner Checklist
Provider & Requester agree on interaction contract
– Transport, Security, Quality of Service, Data Representation,
… Wf-XML
Requester and Provider perform interaction
– Requester initialises and starts service
– Provider accepts request and initiates service
– Requester may query status or cancel service request
– Provider completes request and returns results
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 49
Trading Partner Agreements
Identification
Overall properties
Communication properties
Actions
Sequencing rules
Recourse actions
Roles
Error handling
Legal text
Security properties
Constraints
Responsiveness
// Business partner info.
// Contract duration
// HTTP, SMTP, etc.
// Reserve, modify, etc.
// Refund, etc.
// Buyer, seller, broker, etc.
// Retries, actions invoked
// Penalty if unreachable
// Authentication, non-repudiation
// Modify before 6 p.m
// Modify after reserve
// Timeout
Examples
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 50
Wf-XML Specification
XML Message Set for Interactions between requesters and providers of Workflow Business Services
Based on existing Workflow Interoperability Standards initiatives
– WfMC Workflow Interoperability Specification, OMG Workflow Management Facility (a.k.a jointFlow), Simple Workflow Access Protocol (SWAP)
Main Features
– A structured and well-formed XML message set encoding
– Synchronous or asynchronous message-handling capability
– Independence from transport mechanism
– Easy extensibility through the use of XML and dynamic workflow context data
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 51
Wf-XML Resource Model
Resources
– … are identified by URI-type keys
– … provide a set of operations
Process Definition
– Factory for service providers
Process Instance
– Realises a workflow business service
– Parametrised by workflow context
data
Observer
– Represents service requester
Control &
Query
Provide
Feedback
Create
Instance
Observer
Process
Instance
Process
Definition
Context
data
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 52
Workflow Context Data
Define the workflow relevant instance variables of a
workflow process business service
– Initialised during instantiation of the process
– Provide context for tasks in a workflow process
– Updated by workflow tasks
Example
– Process Product Order takes Order Request as input
– Stepwise completion of the Order Request during process
execution, documenting progress of the workflow process
– Order Completion notice upon process termination
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 53
Process Definition Resource
Resource used to instantiate a particular workflow business service
– Represents particular workflow process template
– May be located via Service Repository
– Internals of workflow process realisation not exposed
CreateProcessInstance Operation
– Takes workflow context data for process instance as input
– Optionally allws for registration of process instance observer
– Returns Process Instance identifier for future reference
Example
– Process Product Order Process
– Takes specific Order details as input
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 54
Process Instance
Resource representing a particular instance of a workflow
business process
– Execution state - basic, extensible state model
– Workflow context data - input data plus intermediary results
– Informs its observer about state or context data changes
GetProcessInstanceData operation
– Retrieves current content of workflow context data set
– Can be used to retrieve final or intermediary results of process
ChangeProcessInstanceState operation
– Changes the execution state of the process instance
– Can be used to suspend or terminate process instance
Example
– Process Product Order of 42 pencils for Marc-Thomas Schmidt
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 55
Process Instance State Model
Defines basic set of execution states
– Nested states
– Level 1 and 2 mandatory, level 3 optional
Can be extended by workflow service specialisations
open
running
notRunning
suspended
closed
completed
abnormalCompleted
aborted
terminated
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 56
Observer
Resource representing a service requester
– Registered with process instance during creation
– Receives notifications on change of execution state and changes in workflow context data of a process instance
– Up to service provider to determine which status changes are propagated
– Future extensions may extend role to represent any party interested in process instance
ProcessInstanceStateChanged operation
– Takes current execution status and workflow context data as input
Example
– Initiator of a workflow process; may be another process
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 57
Wf-XML Message Set
Messages represent operations on Wf-XML resources
– Message pairs representing request-response model
XML encoding of message content
Transport Header
– For future use
Message Header
– Indicates message type (request or response) and identifies
resource which is target of request or source of response
Message Body
– Identifies operation, provides operation-specific parameters and
eventual error codes
– Pattern: OperationName.Request or OperationName.Response
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 58
Workflow Context Data Encoding
Context Data encoding outside of Wf-XML scope
– Message definitions use placeholders for context data
– ContextData tag in request, ResultData tag in response messages with content model ANY
Examples
– Name-value pairs <name>item01</name><value>foo</value>
– Structured, tagged data <vehicle>
<vType>Car</vType> <vMake>BMW</vMake>
</vehicle>
– XML Schema encoding <xs:complexType name="length2">
<xs:element name="size" type="dt:non-positive-integer"/> <xs:element name="unit" type="dt:NMTOKEN"/>
</xs:complexType>
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 59
CreateProcessInstance.Request <?xml version=“1.0”?>
<WfMessage Version=“1.0”>
<WfTransport/>
<WfMessageHeader>
<Request ResponseRequired =”Yes”/>
<Key>http://www.compInc.com/WfSrv?id=1199827</Key>
</WfMessageHeader>
<WfMessageBody>
<CreateProcessInstance.Request StartImmediately =”true”>
<ObserverKey>http://www.Acme.com/wfx456</ObserverKey>
<ContextData>
<Computer>
<Type>thinkpad</Type>
<Series>600X</Series>
<Option>DVD</Option>
</Computer>
</ContextData>
</CreateProcessInstance.Request>
</WfMessageBody>
</WfMessage>
Identifies process
definition
Request to create
process instance
Observer to be
notified of process
updates
Context data for
this process
instance
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 60
CreateProcessInstance.Response -
Success <?xml version=“1.0”?>
<WfMessage Version=“1.0”>
<WfTransport/>
<WfMessageHeader>
<Response/>
<Key>http://www.computerInc.com/WfSrv?id=1199827</Key>
</WfMessageHeader>
<WfMessageBody>
<CreateProcessInstance.Response>
<ProcessInstanceKey>http://www.compInc.com/pi42</ProcessInstanceKey>
</CreateProcessInstance.Response>
</WfMessageBody>
</WfMessage>
Identifies process
definition that
performed request
Identifier of newly
created process
instance
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 61
CreateProcessInstance.Response -
Errors
<?xml version=“1.0”?>
<WfMessage Version=“1.0”>
<WfTransport/>
<WfMessageHeader>
<Response/>
<Key>http://www.comInccom/WfSrv?id=1199827</Key>
</WfMessageHeader>
<WfMessageBody>
<CreateProcessInstance.Response>
<Exception>
<MainCode>502</MainCode>
<Type>F</Type>
<Subject>Invalid Process Definition</Subject>
<Description>Can not create instance</Description>
</Exception>
</CreateProcessInstance.Response>
</WfMessageBody>
</WfMessage>
Exception
information
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 62
GetProcessInstanceData.Request
<?xml version=“1.0”?>
<WfMessage Version=“1.0”>
<WfTransport/>
<WfMessageHeader>
<Request ResponseRequired =”Yes”/>
<Key>http://www.compInc.com/pi42</Key>
</WfMessageHeader>
<WfMessageBody>
<GetProcessInstanceData.Request>
<ResultDataAttributes>
<Priority/>
</ResultDataAttributes>
</GetProcessInstanceData.Request>
</WfMessageBody>
</WfMessage>
Process Instance ID
(from previous
create request)
Identifies context
data we want to
know about
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 63
GetProcessInstanceData.Response
<?xml version=“1.0”?>
<WfMessage Version=“1.0”>
<WfTransport/>
<WfMessageHeader>
<Response/>
<Key>http://www.compInc.com/pi42</Key>
</WfMessageHeader>
<WfMessageBody>
<GetProcessInstanceData.Response>
<ResultDataAttributes>
<Priority>5</Priority>
</ResultDataAttributes>
</GetProcessInstanceData.Response>
</WfMessageBody>
</WfMessage>
Process Instance ID
we send the request
to
Returns only the
properties we asked
for
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 64
ChangeProcessInstanceState.Request
<?xml version=“1.0”?>
<WfMessage Version=“1.0”>
<WfTransport/>
<WfMessageHeader>
<Request ResponseRequired =”Yes”/>
<Key>http://www.compInc.com/pi42</Key>
</WfMessageHeader>
<WfMessageBody>
<ChangeProcessInstanceState.Request>
<State>closed.abnormalCompleted.terminated</State>
</ChangeProcessInstanceState.Request>
</WfMessageBody>
</WfMessage>
Process Instance ID
(from previous
create request)
This is the state we
want the process
instance to take on
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 65
ProcessInstanceStateChanged
Message <?xml version=“1.0”?>
<WfMessage Version=“1.0”>
<WfTransport/>
<WfMessageHeader>
<Request ResponseRequired =”No”/>
<Key>http://www.Acme.com/wfx456</Key>
</WfMessageHeader>
<WfMessageBody>
<ProcessInstanceStateChanged.Request> <ProcessInstanceKey>http://www.compInc.com/pi42</ProcessInstanceKey>
<State>closed.abnormalCompleted.terminated</State>
<ResultData>
<Order>ACM00456</Order>
<Account>ACM-400-2460</Account>
<Amount>150.00</Amount>
</ResultData>
<LastModified>1999-12-25T15:10:35Z</LastModified>
</ProcessInstanceStateChanged.Request>
</WfMessageBody>
</WfMessage>
Observer ID
(registered with
process instance
during create)
Process Instance
that sends the
notification
State of the
process instance Context data of
process instance
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 66
Transport Bindings
Wf-XML does not mandate binding to a particular transport protocol
– Potential transport protocols include HTTP, SMTP, MOM
HTTP binding
– Operations map to HTTP POST
– Resource key is the URI to which a Post method is directed
– The Wf-XML request is the request message body for input
– The Wf-XML response is the response message body for output
– Both request and response specify “Content-type: text/xml” in the HTTP message header.
– Authentication is accomplished through the standard HTTP mechanisms
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 67
Summary
Michael zur Muehlen
University of Muenster
Department of Information Systems
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 68
Use of Wf-XML
(Currently) Peer-to-Peer Communication
Encapsulation of local process logic
– Observe ACID Principles of Database Management
– Syntactic abort of remote process may not equal a
semantic abort
– Change of local process logic may lead to global
deadlocks: Observe partial serialization of process
interfaces
Wf-XML is very suitable for Service Outsourcing
approaches
– Academic research: WISE, CrossFlow
– Commercial projects
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 69
Wf-XML in the Business Scenario
Prerequisites
– HTTP is initial transport binding, but Wf-XML is not limited
to this
– Workflow Management System is not necessarily required
• Wf-XML Adapters for ERP systems
• Wf-XML Adapters for Web Application Servers
• Wf-XML Adapters for EJB Services
– Few operations, well defined API – (relatively) little
implementation effort
– Wf-XML workflow-enables existing business infrastructure
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 70
Wf-XML Status and Outlook
First version of the standard published by WfMC May 2000 – Basic set of Interoperablity messages
– HTTP binding available
Future work areas – Additional bindings
– Generalisation of Observer role
– Process Definition introspection and link to Service Repositories
– Process Instance update operations and execution monitoring
– Link to Trading Partner Agreements and similar interaction contract definitions
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 71
Process Instance Update
Operations and Execution Monitoring
Re-send (additional) context data during remote
process execution
Monitoring of fine-grain process structure
– Currently only coarse granularity of state changes
– Filtering and/or translation of monitoring data
– Integration of monitoring data from different sources
(cascaded monitoring)
– WfMC Interface 5 as a starting point for monitoring data
specification
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 72
Execution Monitoring
Currently: “push“ of coarse state change
information to observer
Future: Integration of fine grain monitoring data
over several involved parties
Observer Process
Instance
Observer Process
Instance
Process
Instance
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 73
Example: Web-based Helpdesk
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 74
Observer for User Monitoring Data
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 75
Details of Cascaded Processes
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 76
Re-Querying of Process Context Data
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 77
Workflow Standards Timeline
1989
1993
1995
2000
1999
OMG
founded
(1989)
WfMC
founded
(1993)
SWAP
Initiative
(1998)
jointFlow
Working Group
WfMC
Reference
Model Wf-XML
V 1.0
IETF Standardization
OMG
Workflow
Facility (8/98)
OMG
Object
Management
Architecture
OMG
CORBA 2.0
Specification
WfMC
IF 4 V 1.0
Interoperability
Challenge
SWAP
Working
Group
Keith
Swenson
et al.
Resource Ass. Int. RFP
Process Modeling RFP
WfMC
IF 4 V 2.0
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 78
Wf-XML
Adds the process dimension
Has evolved from a solid foundation
– WfMC
– OMG
Does not overlap with other XML standards
Is complementary to most XML standards
Has industry support
WfMC, September 2000, Slide 79
Wf-XML Future
Establish a dialog with other XML standards
– Context data providers
– Process providers/users
Show how it complements other XML standards
– Integration of vertical data sets as context data
– Analysis of requirements of standards with process
components (e. g. RosettaNet PIPs)