MobiWork: Mobile Workflow for MANETs

Gregory Hackmann
2006
The workflow model is well suited for scenarios where many entities work collaboratively towards a common goal, and is used widely today to model complex business processes. However, the fundamental workflow model is very powerful and can be applied to a wider variety of application domains. This paper represents an initial investigation into the possibility of using workflows to model collaboration in an ad hoc mobile environment. Moving to a mobile setting introduces many challenges as the
more » ... ility of the participants in a workflow imposes constraints on allocation of workflow tasks, coordination among participants, and marshaling of results. We... Read complete abstract on page 2. Read complete abstract on page 2. Complete Abstract: Complete Abstract: The workflow model is well suited for scenarios where many entities work collaboratively towards a common goal, and is used widely today to model complex business processes. However, the fundamental workflow model is very powerful and can be applied to a wider variety of application domains. This paper represents an initial investigation into the possibility of using workflows to model collaboration in an ad hoc mobile environment. Moving to a mobile setting introduces many challenges as the mobility of the participants in a workflow imposes constraints on allocation of workflow tasks, coordination among participants, and marshaling of results. We present an algorithm that heuristically allocates tasks to participants based on their capabilities and mobility and discuss the architecture and implementation of MobiWork, our prototype system that allocates and executes workflows in an ad hoc mobile environment. An evaluation of the performance of our heuristic algorithm is also presented. Abstract: The workflow model is well suited for scenarios where many entities work collaboratively towards a common goal, and is used widely today to model complex business processes. However, the fundamental workflow model is very powerful and can be applied to a wider variety of application domains. This paper represents an initial investigation into the possibility of using workflows to model collaboration in an ad hoc mobile environment. Moving to a mobile setting introduces many challenges as the mobility of the participants in a workflow imposes constraints on allocation of workflow tasks, coordination among participants, and marshaling of results. We present an algorithm that heuristically allocates tasks to participants based on their capabilities and mobility and discuss the architecture and implementation of MobiWork, our prototype system that allocates and executes workflows in an ad hoc mobile environment. An evaluation of the performance of our heuristic algorithm is also presented. ABSTRACT The workflow model is well suited for scenarios where many entities work collaboratively towards a common goal, and is used widely today to model complex business processes. However, the fundamental workflow model is very powerful and can be applied to a wider variety of application domains. This paper represents an initial investigation into the possibility of using workflows to model collaboration in an ad hoc mobile environment. Moving to a mobile setting introduces many challenges as the mobility of the participants in a workflow imposes constraints on allocation of workflow tasks, coordination among participants, and marshaling of results. We present an algorithm that heuristically allocates tasks to participants based on their capabilities and mobility and discuss the architecture and implementation of Mo-biWork, our prototype system that allocates and executes workflows in an ad hoc mobile environment. An evaluation of the performance of our heuristic algorithm is also presented.
doi:10.7936/k7rb72tr fatcat:q7s54wjdxvcbnoyi55i2dfyrba