A Constrained Object Model for Configuration Based Workflow Composition

TL;DR

This paper introduces a formal constrained object model for workflow composition, leveraging configuration techniques and Z specification to improve automation in web and business process modeling.

Contribution

It formalizes a constrained object model for workflow composition, demonstrating the feasibility of applying configuration techniques in this domain.

Findings

Feasibility of applying configuration techniques to workflow composition

Formal specification of the constrained object model using Z language

Potential for improved automation in workflow modeling

Abstract

Automatic or assisted workflow composition is a field of intense research for applications to the world wide web or to business process modeling. Workflow composition is traditionally addressed in various ways, generally via theorem proving techniques. Recent research observed that building a composite workflow bears strong relationships with finite model search, and that some workflow languages can be defined as constrained object metamodels . This lead to consider the viability of applying configuration techniques to this problem, which was proven feasible. Constrained based configuration expects a constrained object model as input. The purpose of this document is to formally specify the constrained object model involved in ongoing experiments and research using the Z specification language.