Using multi-agent platform for pure decentralised business workflows

This paper describes the development of a distributed multi-agent workflow enacting mechanism starting from a BPEL4WS[BPE03] specification. Our work demonstrates that a multi-agent protocol (Lightweight Coordination Calculus)[Rob04] can be derived from a BPEL4WS specification to enable pure decentralised business workflows. The key difference between our work and other existing multi-agent based systems is that our approach gives a pure distributed architecture (has no centralised controller by any means) for deploying workflow system in an open environment (internat). Moreover, with out approach, existing workflow construct methodologies and business process models can be adopted in as much as possible for the MAS development.

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2008
• Where: WIAS
• Authors: Li Guo, David Robertson, Yun-Heh Chen-Burger
• Keywords: Distributed Multi-agent Workflow, Multi-agent, Pure Decentralised Business, WIAS 2008