An adaptive metadata based workflow and data management system

Abstract

In pervasive computing environment it is required that applications should be able to discover and interoperate with each other. We designed and develop a workflow management system that is based on metadata. In the system we integrated document management, flow management and data management together. The flow engine of the system is capable of manipulating the business data when routing the flows based on metadata, and the system can access each other by interpreting opponent's metadata and context. The system provides visual metadata definition tools that help users to define specific application. That makes the system suitable to be used in various domains. When models of business flow or business data structure change, users can modify the metadata by using the tools to make their system adapt to the new requirements. In this way, the system can be agile and scalable.