Global transaction support for workflow management systems: from formal specification to practical implementation

Grefen, P.W.P.J. and Vonk, J. and Apers, P.M.G. (2001) Global transaction support for workflow management systems: from formal specification to practical implementation. VLDB Journal, 10 (4). pp. 316-333. ISSN 1066-8888

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Abstract:	In this paper, we present an approach to global transaction management in workflow environments. The transaction mechanism is based on the well-known notion of compensation, but extended to deal with both arbitrary process structures to allow cycles in processes and safepoints to allow partial compensation of processes. We present a formal specification of the transaction model and transaction management algorithms in set and graph theory, providing clear, unambiguous transaction semantics. The specification is straightforwardly mapped to a modular architecture, the implementation of which is first applied in a testing environment, then in the prototype of a commercial workflow management system. The modular nature of the resulting system allows easy distribution using middleware technology. The path from abstract semantics specification to concrete, real-world implementation of a workflow transaction mechanism is thus covered in a complete and coherent fashion. As such, this paper provides a complete framework for the application of well-founded transactional workflows.
Item Type:	Article
Faculty:	Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS)
Link to this item:	http://purl.utwente.nl/publications/63240
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s007780100056
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