The specification and design of secure context-aware workflows

Current specification and design languages for workflow systems are inadequate in dealing with context-aware secure workflows. This paper presents a sound wide-spectrum language, CS−Flow, for the specification and design of context-aware, secure workflow systems. As workflow systems have strong temporal aspects (e.g. activity sequencing, deadline, scheduling constraints, etc.), the proposed CS−Flow is equipped with a rich set of temporal constructs together with temporal proof rules which can be used to be integrated with temporal expert systems, hence enhancing the capabilities of current workflow software. In addition, CS−Flow is supported by a proof system which underpins the workflow engine that provides decision service using its state to make some decision and update the workflow state. CS−Flow therefore provides a sound linkage between expert systems and workflow engines.