A proposed design for a workflow engine

摘要

This paper discusses the proposed design for a workflow engine. Workflow is the automation of procedures where documents, information or work is passed between several processing entities. Work contains activities, which are done to achieve certain aims. Usually any work can be divided into smaller subworks. When the subworks have been executed, the original work is done. Each processing entity executes its own part before the work is passed onto the next processing entity. The paper focuses on the work database and two main engine modules. The modules are the work administrator and the user interface. Work administrator enables the engine to process the workflows. User interface provides two-way communication between the engine and the processing entities. Engine does the execution and the scheduling of work by ensuring that the work is conveyed to the appropriate entity during a suitable interval. Work database stores the work processing information. The initial results show that the prototype based on the design is capable of processing production-based workflow.