Pre-locking scheme for allowing consistent and concurrent workflow process execution in a workflow management system

摘要

A system for allowing consistent execution of a workflow process in a computer-enabled workflow management system is described. The system includes a workflow process database accessible by the workflow process. The workflow process includes at least one sequence of workflow actions, having at least one set of parallel workflow actions and being configured as a plurality of nodes interconnected by arcs. Each node defines at least one of the workflow actions and reading and writing data items when executing the workflow actions. A first module is provided to lock all data items in the workflow process database that are specified for access by the workflow process from being accessed by other workflow processes during execution of the workflow process before the execution of the workflow process is commenced. A second module is provided to release all the locked data items from being locked after the workflow process has been executed such that execution consistency and concurrency of the workflow process is maintained. A computer implemented method for allowing consistent execution of a workflow process in a computer-enabled workflow management system is also described.