Affiliations: [a] School of ECS, University of Westminster, London, W1W 6UW, UK | [b] University of Manchester, Manchester, PO BOX 88, M60 1QD, UK | [x] University of Westminster, Westminster, UK | [y] The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Abstract: The need for explicit time representation in workflow environments has been recently identified. Although the concept of time is an intrinsic part of a workflow application, time management has been treated as an issue of ordering the constructs of the workflow specification. This traditional approach aids mainly in the monitoring of activity deadlines. There is limited support for modelling and representation of time constraints associated with the processes and their activities or cases. This paper presents a temporal formalism for representing indeterminacy to workflow specifications. We further argue that integrating workflows with temporal databases can further enhance the workflow specification. Finally we utilise agents as part of a temporal workflow environment. Particular attention is paid in the allocation of agents to workflow activities with reference to the properties of conflict resolution and moving hierarchies.
