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Reactive Petri Nets for Workflow Modeling

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Applications and Theory of Petri Nets 2003 (ICATPN 2003)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 2679))

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Abstract

Petri nets are widely used for modeling and analyzing workflows. Using the token-game semantics, Petri net-based workflow models can be analyzed before the model is actually used at run time. At run time, a workflow model prescribes behavior of a reactive system (the workflow engine). But the token-game semantics models behavior of closed, active systems. Thus, the token-game semantics behavior of a Petri net-based workflow model will differ considerably from its behavior at run time. In this paper we define a reactive semantics for Petri nets. This semantics can model behavior of a reactive system and its environment. We compare this semantics with the token-game semantics and prove that under some conditions the reactive semantics and the token-game semantics induce similar behavior. Next, we apply the reactive semantics to workflow modeling and show how a workflow net can be transformed into a reactive workflow net. We prove that under some conditions the soundness property of a workflow net is preserved when the workflow net is transformed into a reactive workflow net. This result shows that to analyze soundness, the token-game semantics can safely be used, even though that semantics is not reactive.

Part of this work was done while the author was working at the University of Twente.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. LIASIT | CRP Henri Tudor, 6 rue Coudenhove - Kalergi, L-1359, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

    Rik Eshuis

  2. Institute for Computation and Information Structures (CIS), Technical University Berlin, Sekr.EN7, Einsteinufer 17, D-10587, Berlin, Germany

    Juliane Dehnert

Authors
  1. Rik Eshuis
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  2. Juliane Dehnert
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Technology and Management, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    Wil M. P. van der Aalst

  2. Computer Science Department Parallel Systems Group, University of Oldenburg, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany

    Eike Best

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© 2003 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Eshuis, R., Dehnert, J. (2003). Reactive Petri Nets for Workflow Modeling. In: van der Aalst, W.M.P., Best, E. (eds) Applications and Theory of Petri Nets 2003. ICATPN 2003. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 2679. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-44919-1_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-44919-1_20

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-40334-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-44919-5

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