Data description and data access mechanism in distributed workflow system

ABSTRACT

Aiming at the problem that the existing workflow management systems are not effective in describing and establishing data flow, conceptions of interior data flow and exterior data flow are introduced in this paper. Based on analyzing characteristics of data flows, a new architecture of workflow data management in distributed environments is proposed. In the proposed architecture the runtime nodes in runtime level are responsible for control flow, and the data nodes in data level are responsible for data flow. The execution of receiver activity on runtime node triggers the data replication mechanism of the data level. Then the required data flow between runtime nodes can be established. Compared with the existing methods of data flow implementation, the proposed method of data description and data access mechanism provide data transmission for the exterior data, and convenient the description and implementation for the interior data. The proposed method has value in designing data management in workflow management system.

REFERENCES

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.2 DATABASE MANAGEMENT
      H.2.6 Database Machines

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.3 INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL
      H.3.3 Information Search and Retrieval
          Subjects: Query formulation

General Terms:
Design, Management

Keywords:
control flow, data access mechanism, data description, data flow, workflow data