Lessons learned from the implementation of a workflow management system using mobile agents


Zoran Budimac, Dragoslav Pešović, Mirjana Ivanović, Nataša Ibrajter




In [1, 8] we proposed a complete design of a workflow management system using mobile agents. The proposed solution was highly distributed and almost without centralized control. Therefore, it had better characteristics than other corresponding designs, including ones that also use mobile agents as the infrastructure. In this paper we concentrate on the experience that we gained during the implementation of the system. The highlights are: the changes in the original design that are enforced by the choice of underlying mobile-agent system, distribution of responsibilities among entities of the system, and possibility to use stationary service agents. We also discuss one “worker” and its architecture.