Jessica Chen-Burger Aberdeen/Edinburgh AKT TIE Distributed Knowledge-based Manipulation and Collaboration Jessica Chen-Burger AIAI, University of Edinburgh

Jessica Chen-Burger Problem Context l Problem Context: –Modern organisations are virtual entities; –People involved are located in different places, each with different capabilities and responsibilities; –People needs to work collaboratively to accomplish tasks and together achieve organisational goals. l Two Enabling Technologies: –Business Process Modelling techniques: Edinburgh; –Constraint-based Problem Solving techniques: Aberdeen; –Mapping of the two.

Jessica Chen-Burger PC Configuration Domain Collaboration between two types of Actors I-X Process Panel BPM - 1 BPM - 2 Edinburgh: Costing Site Aberdeen: Tech. Site User Req INCA-FBPM Ontology PC Config. Ontology Constrain Ontology PC Config. Ontology Mapped Ontology Com P-1Com P-2 Com I-1Com I-2 Comp Spec

Jessica Chen-Burger Aims l Connect KRAFT and I-X based agents on AKTBus l Exchange process and product information via a shared constraint ontology based on CIF and / l Demonstrate early ideas for intelligent meeting room support (I-Room)

Jessica Chen-Burger Ultimate Goal – Support for a Virtual Organisation l To provide distributed knowledge- and semantic-based manipulation and collaboration; l A realisation where multiple tools are used (e.g. OU and Soton’s hyperlink tool, processor modeller, AKT-0, AKTbus, netmeeting) multiple methodologies and disciplines are involved, and information from multiple domains are used. Most importantly, people with different responsibilities and capabilities are working together to accomplish tasks, solve problems, and achieve organisational goals.

Jessica Chen-Burger Technical Challenges - The Gap between EM and Reality Enterprise Models Software System Development BP Model Org. Model Cap. Model Relational DBMS OO DBMS Other Software System Ontology GAP

Jessica Chen-Burger Bridging The Gap between EM and Reality Enterprise Models (EM) Software System Development BP Model Org. Model Cap. Model UML Class Dia Data Model Relational DBMS OO DBMS Other Software System Ontology Workflow System Quality Assurance Mapping of Data Structure

Jessica Chen-Burger Demonstrating BPM and Workflow System Enterprise Models Software System Development BP Model Org. Model Cap. Model UML Class Dia Data Model Relational DBMS OO DBMS Other Software System Ontology Workflow System Quality Assurance Mapping of Data Structure FBPML I-X PP

Jessica Chen-Burger One Use of BPM and Ontology Business Process Model Formal Representation Sharable Ontology System Components The User/ Developer End User Interface Workflow System System Components

Jessica Chen-Burger Edinburgh Workflow System Process Model - 1 Aberdeen Workflow System Process Model - 2 Broker Cost Constraint Solver Intelligent Agent - 1 Intelligent Agent - n Intelligent Agent - 2 Intelligent Agent - m Intelligent Agent – 2a Technical Constraint Solver Intelligent Agent – 1a An Overview: Collaboration in a Distributed Environment

Jessica Chen-Burger Fundamental Business Process Modelling Language (FBPML) l An Integration of concepts from several standard modelling languages: –IDEF3 – graphical notation, process concept –PSL – formal semantics –INCA framework compliant –IBM’s business model in BSDM – modelling principle –RAD – concept of roles –Planning and Workflow – formalism that is executable BPML l Design Principles: –Compliant with standardised process modelling languages –Minimum notations - easy to understand and use – (extendable) –INCA framework compliant –Semi-Formal modelling language based on formal theories »Notation with formal semantics - junction »Transaction theory »Declarative - executable –Methodical way of building BPM – iterative process in two higher level stages

Jessica Chen-Burger Fundamental Business Process Modelling Language (FBPML)

Jessica Chen-Burger Presenting in an I-X Process Panel – Costing Site

Jessica Chen-Burger Presenting in an I-X Process Panel – Technical Site