Modeling and engineering software systems using Petri networks

Abstract

A model of software applications for business process management based on colored Petri Networks is proposed and the corresponding application development process is exposed. A language is proposed to specify the enabling rules of the transitions. An algorithm to solve the binding problem is proposed and detailed. These elements allow the developers to isolate themselves from the very complex details of business process orchestration, transaction management, multi-threading issues, and to concentrate on the implementation of the transitions themselves. As a proof of concept, a lightweight business process engine based on that model has been implemented as well as the associated development and code generation tools.