An Internet-based framework for federated process support

The coupling of process-centered environments (PCEs) with distributed objec t architectures like COM, CORBA and Java opens up an unprecedented range of possibilities in terms of automatic process management. The human factor i s still the major component of the software precess but its role is changin g, as is the kind of support it needs. Focusing on the interactions between different distributed PCEs (heterogeneous federation), we present an Inter net-based framework for the definition and enactment of federated processes . A CSP-like process definition language makes distribution problems transp arent to the process designer while compiler and execution engines exploit Internet technology in order to map process specifications into the actual IT infrastructure. Different solutions are investigated for both the deploy ment of the enactment components and their interaction with local PCEs.