A Formalization Model Transformation Approach on Workflow Automatic Execution from CIM Level to PIM Level

Abstract

Model transformation is a keystone in carrying out model-driven development. Currently, many studies have focused on model transformation, those researches study the automatic transformation from PIM to PSM and from PSM to code, but only few have dealt with how the CIM-level model is automatically mapped onto the PIM-level model. Even though some studies have proposed the semi-automatic transformation from CIM-level model to PIM-level model, only few mechanisms are discussed to protect the consistency between the CIM-level model and the PIM-level model in these researches because notation specification of these CIM-level model and PIM-level model does not contain precise semantics. Focusing on workflow perspective, this paper proposes an automatic model transformation approach, which applies a formal model to define the automatic mapping of the workflow from CIM-level model to PIM-level model. This proposal extends Petri nets model elements to define a bridge model, then we use this bridge model to link the CIM-level model (BPMN) and PIM-level model (SCM) following model-driven approach. The metamodels, the transformation rule and the transformation plug-ins have been defined in Eclipse Modeling Framework. Meanwhile, the plug-ins have been empirically validated by a Travel Agency case study. This study shows that using extended Petri nets model as a bridge model to define an automatic model transformation between CIM-level model and PIM-level model is feasible. This approach by means of formal model can ensure the correctness and completeness of the target model, and it can also maintain the consistency between the source model and target model.