Java Reference
In-Depth Information
Open
Closed
not_running
completed
not_started
terminated
running
suspended
aborted
Figure 21.4
Process states
21.2.2
Main features
The workflow management system must exhibit the following features:
Enactment of processes
. The administrators must be able to activate and
monitor the process. The workflow participants interact with the system
(e.g. start, advance, close processes).
■
Description of processes
. The managers must be able to describe the
processes that will be enacted by the system.
■
Web interface
. The system can be used through a web interface that is
accessible using a browser.
■
21.2.3
Test
The test process will focus on the two functional features of the WfMS,
i.e. process definition and process enactment. The tests will be carried
out directly accessing the available interfaces or through a high-level web
interface.
21.3
■
Architecture and planning
The type of system we want to develop has a strong influence on the logical
architecture. Both the selected standards and the literature in the field
of workflow are based on a predefined conceptual model, presented in
Figure 21.5.
The WfMS must handle two types of information:
■
the process definitions provided at build time; and
■
the status of the currently enacted processes.
These two pieces of information are closely related since the former con-
strains how the latter evolves. The processes and activity instances are
related to processes and activities definitions that are defined in a process
model.
