Extension du formalisme des flux op\'erationnels par une alg\`ebre temporelle

TL;DR

This paper introduces a unified formal semantics for workflows and interval algebras, enabling interoperability and advanced reasoning about process timing constraints.

Contribution

It develops a common model-theoretical semantics that integrates workflows with qualitative interval algebras, enhancing reasoning capabilities.

Findings

Unified semantics for workflows and interval algebras

Enables reasoning across different process models

Discussion of formal extensions for workflows

Abstract

Workflows constitute an important language to represent knowledge about processes, but also increasingly to reason on such knowledge. On the other hand, there is a limit to which time constraints between activities can be expressed. Qualitative interval algebras can model processes using finer temporal relations, but they cannot reproduce all workflow patterns. This paper defines a common ground model-theoretical semantics for both workflows and interval algebras, making it possible for reasoning systems working with either to interoperate. Thanks to this, interesting properties and inferences can be defined, both on workflows and on an extended formalism combining workflows with interval algebras. Finally, similar formalisms proposing a sound formal basis for workflows and extending them are discussed.