Publication Details
Title: An Introduction to Modular Process Nets
Author: D. Wikarski
Group: ICSI Technical Reports
Date: April 1996
PDF: ftp://ftp.icsi.berkeley.edu/pub/techreports/1996/tr-96-019.pdf
Overview:
Modular process nets are a graphical and formal notation for the representation of technical and business process models containing concurrent activities. They are low-level Petri nets equipped with innovative module and communication concepts, optionally enhanced by the use of a task concept as known from the areas of computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) and workflow management. Though originally developed for modeling, analysis, simulation and control of workflows and computer-based process control systems, this class of models can also be used in other areas where a formal description of complex processes is needed. After a description of the basic aims and design decisions for modular process nets and a brief introduction to low-level Petri nets, the report gives a detailed description of a hierarchical module concept for nets and introduces the new class of elementary process nets. The module concept is part of a more general ("object-based") approach to Petri nets, whereas the main feature of elementary process nets is the definition of constructs for synchronous and asynchronous communication between separately interpreted net instances via events and token passing. The report is intended to be a precise and systematic introduction to modular process nets. At the same time, it is kept as informal as possible in order to provide a broad spectrum of non-specialist users with a comprehensible means of expression for complex processes. Typical application examples are included.
Bibliographic Information:
ICSI Technical Report TR-96-019
Bibliographic Reference:
D. Wikarski. An Introduction to Modular Process Nets. ICSI Technical Report TR-96-019, April 1996
Author: D. Wikarski
Group: ICSI Technical Reports
Date: April 1996
PDF: ftp://ftp.icsi.berkeley.edu/pub/techreports/1996/tr-96-019.pdf
Overview:
Modular process nets are a graphical and formal notation for the representation of technical and business process models containing concurrent activities. They are low-level Petri nets equipped with innovative module and communication concepts, optionally enhanced by the use of a task concept as known from the areas of computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) and workflow management. Though originally developed for modeling, analysis, simulation and control of workflows and computer-based process control systems, this class of models can also be used in other areas where a formal description of complex processes is needed. After a description of the basic aims and design decisions for modular process nets and a brief introduction to low-level Petri nets, the report gives a detailed description of a hierarchical module concept for nets and introduces the new class of elementary process nets. The module concept is part of a more general ("object-based") approach to Petri nets, whereas the main feature of elementary process nets is the definition of constructs for synchronous and asynchronous communication between separately interpreted net instances via events and token passing. The report is intended to be a precise and systematic introduction to modular process nets. At the same time, it is kept as informal as possible in order to provide a broad spectrum of non-specialist users with a comprehensible means of expression for complex processes. Typical application examples are included.
Bibliographic Information:
ICSI Technical Report TR-96-019
Bibliographic Reference:
D. Wikarski. An Introduction to Modular Process Nets. ICSI Technical Report TR-96-019, April 1996