Conceptual Modeling for Collaborative E-business Processes

Abstract

As the Web evolves from providing information access into a platform for e-business, there is a need for modeling and automating inter-business interactions. Today, business-to-business interaction based on XML document exchange has been widely discussed. However, there is only limited technology for defining and automating these interactions at the business process level. In this paper, we introduce Common Business Collaboration (CBC) protocols based on common business objects, as well as Inter-business Collaborative Processes (ICP). An ICP expresses process-level business interaction, while allowing complete autonomy of the internal processes at each participating party. The automation of these inter-business collaborative processes is based on a peer-to-peer implementation paradigm, rather than a single centralized process engine. An XML-based CBC Description Language, CBCDL, is introduced to model inter-business collaborative processes. The feasibility and practical value of this approach have been demonstrated through prototypes implemented at HP Laboratories.

Current Address: Commerce One Laboratories, Cupertino, CA, USA;