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patterns from past usage data to predict the most likely next step in
building visualization pipelines [215], and case-based reasoning in
finding a similar workflow and using it to suggest the next component
to be included in a workflow [216].
The interplay of social software and BPM is receiving more
attention [217-219]. Different from a pure, traditional software system,
the BPM system is more human-centric and involves much collabora-
tion. Therefore, it is natural that BPM can leverage the power of social
software for various purposes such as personal networking, cross-task
information sharing, and intra-workflow collaboration.
Social Network and Services Computing
Maamar et al. [220,221] point out that Web service-based SOA falls
short of its potential because it does not incorporate the interaction with
peer services or users, ignores the past usage and can neither self-evolve
nor self-organize. They also argue that weaving social network ele-
ments into Web services can stimulate the collaboration, competition,
and substitution of services, and eventually foster a better service
ecosystem. myExperiment and BioCatalogue, as mentioned in Chap-
ter 7 and earlier in this chapter, are also examples that combine a social
network with services computing. In the following two sections of
this chapter, we will discuss how we analyze the service network
in myExperiment, derive its metrics, and use them to assist service
composition.
8.2 NETWORK ANALYSIS OF MYEXPERIMENT
8.2.1 Network Model at a Glance
We downloaded myExperiment workflows via its RESTAPI on August
23, 2010. We analyzed the structure of each Taverna workflow serial-
ized in an XML-based format. We found that (a) 347 of the workflows
contained at least one Web service and (b) altogether there were 241
unique services. Because our goal was to identify the current usage
pattern of services in workflows, we focused on these 347 workflows
and 241 services.
Figure 8.5 illustrates the overall approach of this network analysis.
After downloading the myExperiment workflows, we abstract them by
