Executing Discrete/Continuous Declarative Process Specifications via Complex Event Processing

TL;DR

This paper presents a real-time execution architecture for hybrid declarative process models that combine discrete events and continuous signals, enabling active process control in cyber-physical systems.

Contribution

It introduces a novel CEP-based architecture that integrates STL-inspired predicates for real-time enforcement of hybrid process specifications.

Findings

Enables real-time process execution with continuous sensor data

Bridges the gap between hybrid specifications and operational control

Supports active triggering and enforcement of process constraints

Abstract

Traditional Business Process Management (BPM) focuses on discrete events and fails to incorporate critical continuous sensor data in cyber-physical environments. Hybrid declarative specifications, utilizing Signal Temporal Logic (STL), address this limitation by allowing constraints over both discrete events and real-valued signals. However, existing work has been limited to monitoring and post-hoc conformance checking. This paper introduces a novel Complex Event Processing (CEP)-based execution architecture that enables the real-time execution and enforcement of hybrid declarative models. Our three-layer approach integrates STL-inspired predicates into the execution flow, allowing the system to actively trigger activities and enforce process boundaries based on continuous sensor behavior. This approach bridges the gap between hybrid specification and operational control.