iOmS: An Agent-Based P2P Framework for Ubiquitous Workflow

Workflow is referred to automatic business process, and current involving methods mainly depend on traditional centralized C/S infrastructure and email systems. As far as we know, the existing methods have following weaknesses in nature: 1) The abilities of workflow processing is difficult to scale up; 2) Workflow execution is not flexible; 3) Workflow transfer process is not reliable; 4) Handheld devices in mobile environments are seldom considered. However, peer-to-peer technology is characterized by decentralized control, large scale, and extreme dynamism, while agent technology can construct overlay network more easily and process workflow automatically. In this paper, we present a novel framework based on office-secretary model, which utilizes concept of peer-to-peer, agent and transaction mechanism. In particular, we believe that iOmS framework could easily support scalable, dynamic, reliable, and ubiquitous workflow applications.