A semantic workflow engine powered by grid reasoning

In this paper, we provide a novel semantic workflow system, based on semantic functional service descriptions and a rule file that can be scheduled on a grid. The workflow engine follows a three-step process. First, it determines for all the resources in its knowledge base the functionality they need to progress in the workflow. This uses a phase-functionality rule file which binds phases of the workflow to functionalities. During a second phase, the functionalities are mapped to REST service calls using RESTdesc functional descriptions. During the third step, the engine executes the generated service calls and pushes the resource it acted on to the next phase in the workflow using a phase-transition rule file. On a grid, each step will be fulfilled by another type of node. The grid architecture of the workflow engine guarantees its scalability.