A WORKFLOW MODEL AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION FOR E-COMMERCE APPLICATION IN VIRTUAL ENTERPRISES

One key to E-commerce applications in virtual enterprises is to realize real-time information integration as well as process integration cross organizations and among multi-databases. Based on the roles and the extended Petri-net, a workflow model is designed, that can be used to create E-commerce applications in virtual enterprises. The prototype system architecture is presented. In the concept level, the model is suited to present partners dynamic behaviors in the processes of realizing the business goals. And in the implementation level, the model is suited for objects to "plug and play" and interoperate based on the distributed object architecture. The result of the disscussion suggests a new concept for E-commerce applications in virtual enterprises.