Abstract
In the progressing digitalization, automated processes increasingly integrate IoT devices. However, incorporating field devices located in unstable environments can easily lead to situations in which central automation systems are no longer connected to the devices and their functionality. A temporary disconnection is especially likely for location-independent mobile systems such as smartphones, drones, and mobile robots. This situation can result in the suspension or interruption of the process execution. As a solution, we propose and analyze an old architectural approach: the decentralized execution of one process over multiple, collaborating process engines placed directly on the devices. We name the overall system a decentralized Process Management System (dPMS) and explain the architecture, the interfaces, and several aspects of the process deployment. For the latter, one of the most interesting procedures is Dynamic Deployment: it allows portable and, to some extent, self-organizing processes.
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Notes
- 1.
We do not extend the term Business Process Management System (BPMS) because the word “Business” is not inclusive enough for the private and public sectors.
- 2.
In the course of the shift from Workflow to BPM systems, the naming has changed a bit: Workflow Engine = Process Engine, Workflow Client Applications = Worklist/Tasklist.
- 3.
As mentioned before, the process description must be transmitted once at design time for the process’s inception.
- 4.
If the DPE finds no suitable execution engine, it may wait until one is available. This is desirable because an environment contains Machines that are added or removed over time.
- 5.
- 6.
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Grunert, K., Joderi Shoferi, J., Rohwer, K., Pankovska, E., Gold, L. (2022). Architecture of decentralized Process Management Systems. In: Di Ciccio, C., Dijkman, R., del Río Ortega, A., Rinderle-Ma, S. (eds) Business Process Management. BPM 2022. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 13420. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-16103-2_28
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