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An Architecture for Supporting Disconnected Operation in Workflow: An XML-Based Approach

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Groupware: Design, Implementation, and Use (CRIWG 2003)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 2806))

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Abstract

Nowadays, there exist few options to support workflow and cooperation among mobile users using non-traditional computing platforms such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). Considering the growing need for mobility and the more frequent use of mobile devices, it is necessary to provide support for the integration of these to the work environments. In this work, we present the development of the SysCoor Workflow Management System (WFMS) architecture, which provides support for the semi-automatic generation of Web-based workflow systems and disconnected workflow through the use of models described in the eXtensible Markup Language (XML) and also considers the use of image, video and multimedia presentations as part of the workflow information entities. We present a scenario that illustrates a disconnected process and how it could benefit by this approach. We establish the requirements for supporting disconnected workflow and discuss the architecture of the system that is based in the use of XML for the specification of the workflow systems and disconnected operations. The workflow systems’ specification is generated in XML to enable interoperability with other WFMS engines. The development of the disconnection mechanism is presented in terms of a lightweight architecture for PDA devices developed using the SuperWaba programming language, however, the architecture described can be implemented using other programming tools.

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© 2003 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Arroyo-Sandoval, P., Martinez-Garcia, A.I., Ramirez-Fernandez, C. (2003). An Architecture for Supporting Disconnected Operation in Workflow: An XML-Based Approach. In: Favela, J., Decouchant, D. (eds) Groupware: Design, Implementation, and Use. CRIWG 2003. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 2806. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-39850-9_24

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-39850-9_24

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-20117-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-39850-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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