New user-oriented workflow model

To satisfy requirements on workflow model from enterprise users in the ability of powerful expression and analysis, a novel user-oriented description workflow process model, i. e. Description WorkFlow net (DWF_net) was proposed. DWF_net was designed to directly describe various complicated processes, especially multiple instances, cancel activity, advanced parallel, and synchronization which were not supported by most of workflow models. Advanced components such as multiple instances task, cancel task, and task with transfer transition were provided by DWF_net, which could directly support complicated patterns. Every advanced component was mapped onto specific structural DWF_net with formal semantics. DWF_net strengthened the power of Petri net in dealing with complicated data structure by adding control variables and communication mechanisms among transitions. Finally, an application example was introduced to illustrate the application of the proposed model in modeling and analysis of various complicated processes.