InfoFlow: A Web-based Workflow Management System

In this paper, we introduce the design and development of a web-based workflow management system. The goal of the developed system is to manage business processes occurring in the CITIS (Contractor Integrated Technical Information Services) environment. The system is composed of three main modules: Process Designer, Workflow Engine, and Client modules. The Process Designer is a module that provides the environment for the build-time function, which generates the specifications of processes. The module presents the capability of defining nested process models, which is powerful in particular for designing complex processes. Since the other two modules are implemented using pure Java technology, the Workflow Engine can be implemented on any platform and the Client programs can be accessed via the WWW interface. This indicates that there is no need to install any client programs at the client-sides. Users who has a connection to the internet with web browsers, such as Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator, and has a proper right of access can utilize the normal client, monitoring client, and system administration client programs. Communications between the workflow engine and the clients are implemented using the java servlet mechanism. The workflow system can serve as the underlying platform of process management tool in CALS and CITIS environments. An example scenario of using the system is presented.