|
|
|
WS-BPEL Extension for People (BPEL4People) Composite applications have a key role in SAP's Enterprise SOA strategy. They combine automated process steps implemented using enterprise services with human user interactions. SAP, along with other leading technology vendors, published a set of specifications which define how human interactions can be integrated in Web services-based business processes as well as SOA-based applications. First proposed in the BPEL4People white paper by SAP and IBM, the Web Services Human Task (WS-HumanTask) and WS-BPEL Extension for People (BPEL4People) specifications describe how requirements discussed in the white paper can be addressed using the WS-BPEL 2.0 as a basis. These specifications introduce a common model for human interactions, including human tasks and notifications, and define integration of human interactions within WS-BPEL processes and SOA-based applications. Getting Started Ivana Trickovic and Alan Rickayzen, authors of the specifications, summarize in an 18 minute podcast the essential repercussions and features of this new brace of SOA standards. Specifications and Whitepapers Web Services Human Task (WS-HumanTask), Version 1.0 (PDF 801 KB) This specification introduces the definition of human tasks and notifications, including their properties, behavior and a set of operations used to manipulate human tasks. A coordination protocol is introduced in order to control autonomy and life cycle of service-enabled human tasks in an interoperable manner. WS-BPEL Extension for People (BPEL4People), Version 1.0 (PDF 979 KB) This specification introduces a WS-BPEL extension to address human interactions in WS-BPEL as a first-class citizen. It defines a new type of basic activity which uses human tasks as an implementation, and allows specifying tasks local to a process or use tasks defined outside of the process definition. This extension is based on the WS-HumanTask specification. BPEL4People: WS-BPEL Extension for People (PDF 245 KB) This whitepaper published in 2005 by SAP and IBM describes scenarios where humans are involved with business processes and set the motivation and scope of the BPEL4People and WS-HumanTask specifications published in 2007. Despite being two years old, the whitepaper still provides a valid description of what is achieved by the 2007 specifications. Related Activities Web Services Business Process Execution Language (WS-BPEL), Version 2.0 WS-BPEL 2.0 is an OASIS Standard, which provides a model for business processes based on Web services and is considered as one of the key building blocks of SOA. More on WS-BPEL Extension for People (BPEL4People) BPEL4People White Paper Overview This podcast describes the BPEL4People joint white paper by SAP and IBM proposing an extension to the current WS-BPEL standard to simplify and help the consistency of enabling human interactions (such as decisions or knowledge-worker input) in BPEL processes. WS-BPEL 2.0 from OASIS - How it has progressed since BPEL 1.1 This podcast is the third in a series of podcasts on BPEL. In the first two podcasts we gave an overview of what BPEL is used for, how it completes the SOA picture and explained important and unique concepts behind BPEL. This podcast is primarily intended for those who want to learn what is new in WS-BPEL 2.0 (public review draft) compared to BPEL4WS 1.1, which was initially submitted to OASIS and used as input for the work on version 2.0, and what new vocabulary is available for the business process expert or engineer. BPEL4People: How People Interact With Business Processes (PDF 48 KB) This article explains briefly the need for an extension to WS-BPEL that supports designing of how people interact with business processes. It should help readers understand why SAP and IBM have worked jointly on a proposal for human user interactions in WS-BPEL. Related Areas on SDN BPEL4People Specifications available (PDF 19 KB) SAP, along with other leading technology vendors, today (June 25th, 2007) announced the eagerly awaited specifications BPEL4People and WS-HumanTask, based on WS-BPEL 2.0. First proposed in a white paper written by SAP and IBM two years ago, these specifications define how human interactions can be integrated in enterprise SOA-based processes and applications. Read the press release to learn more. |
Page last updated 3 Jul 2007