Workflow and Service Composition Languages

Abstract

We survey the requirements, concepts, and usage patterns of modern workflow languages which are employed in today’s workflow management systems as well as inWeb service environments. After briefly reviewing workflow application development processes, basic notions of workflow modeling and execution and their relevant properties are introduced. A coarse classification of workflow languages is presented, and the main features of common workflow languages are described in the context of a sample application process. Workflow nets are introduced as well as their extension for improved coverage of workflow patterns: YAWL (Yet Another Workflow Language). In Web services composition, the Business Process Execution Language for Web Services and the graphical Business Process Modeling Notation are described. These workflow languages are illustrated by a common sample busi- ness process from the financial sector.