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Exception Handling in Workflow Management Systems

Published: 01 October 2000 Publication History

Abstract

Fault tolerance is a key requirement in Process Support Systems (PSS), a class of distributed computing middleware encompassing applications such as workflow management systems and process centered software engineering environments. A PSS controls the flow of work between programs and users in networked environments based on a metaprogram (the process). The resulting applications are characterized by a high degree of distribution and a high degree of heterogeneity (properties that make fault tolerance both highly desirable and difficult to achieve.) In this paper, we present a solution for implementing more reliable processes by using exception handling, as it is used in programming languages, and atomicity, as it is known from the transaction concept in database management systems. The paper describes the mechanism incorporating both transactions and exceptions and presents a validation technique allowing to assess the correctness of process specifications.

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Published In

cover image IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering
IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering  Volume 26, Issue 10
special section on current trends in exception handling—part II
October 2000
103 pages
ISSN:0098-5589
Issue’s Table of Contents

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IEEE Press

Publication History

Published: 01 October 2000

Author Tags

  1. Dependability
  2. exception handling
  3. process support systems.
  4. workflow management

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