Formal Language For Business Communication Research Articles

Computational aspects of the FLBC framework

Recent research has sought to develop formal languages for business communication as more expressive, flexible and powerful alternatives to current electronic data interchange (EDI) standards, with potential benefits both for business-to-business exchanges in e-commerce and for general intra-organizational communication. A prominent approach in this area has become known as the formal language for business communication (FLBC) and is grounded on speech act theory, event semantics, thematic roles, and first-order logic (FOL). In this paper, we discuss some of the specific technical choices for the representation of messages in the original FLBC framework and propose two modifications. The first eliminates a problematic modal logical component from the representations of messages; the second transforms the message representation into Skolemised clausal form. Focusing on two different computational tasks, we illustrate how existing computational methods can be employed directly on the resulting representation for messages. We also propose an alternative formulation for messages using C-logic and discuss possible extensions to the resulting modified FLBC framework, for example, in establishing whether an exchange is meaningful and in compliance with the setting in which the parties have pre-agreed to operate. Finally, we consider some open problems and identify directions for future developments.

Cross-organizational workflow integration using contracts

Enterprises are lining up into virtual enterprises to meet the ever-increasing customer's demands in a more flexible and effective way than before. Hence, the business processes as well as supporting workflow systems need to be tightly embedded into streamlined, virtual value chains that can transcend organizational boundaries. It is generally recognized that the combination of workflow with business-object component technology provides the required solution. However, today's widespread business workflow modeling techniques suffer from an object bias, ignoring the most essential coordination vehicle in the enterprise: communication, and the resulting commitments. In this paper, we present contracts that encapsulate (formal) commitments laid down as a set of obligations to coordinate and control the interaction between business workflows. We use the business contract specification language XLBC to formally link the Component Definition Language (CDL) specification of business object-based workflow systems. XLBC is an extension of the Formal Language for Business Communication (FLBC) and a framework for the semantics of XLBC transactions is described. Finally, we indicate a feasible implementation architecture on the basis of an emerging internet-enabled business process architecture, ebXML and Trading Partner Agreements (TPAs).

A note on getting started with FLBC

My aim in this note is to provide a series of examples that will serve to illustrate how to symbolize English sentences in a manner concording with the theory I have been developing for an FLBC (formal language for business communication, cf. [3, 6, 8, 7, 5, 9, 4]). In that theory, which can be called the lean event semantics with disquotation (LESD) theory, first-order logic is used for (nearly) all representations. The version of FLBC being illustrated here I shall call Elementary FLBC. The presentation is example-driven. Theory is used and alluded to, but must be accessed in other writings as cited above.

Formal Language for Business Communication: Sketch of a Basic Theory

:Progress in research on developing a general-purpose formal language for business communications (FLBC) has been substantial. Key distinctions have been made, important concepts identified, and impressive prototypes implemented. The purpose of this paper is to present succinctly the basic elements of a complete (logical) theory for an FLBC. These elements include speech act theory, event semantics, extensive use of thematic roles, and representation in firsl-order logic. The theory is expected 10 leod to superior messaging in electronic commerce.

Meta-Patterns for Electronic Commerce Transactions Based on the Formal Language for Business Communication (FLBC)

:Because of the highly communicative character of electronic commerce transactions, open-EDI representation languages like FlBC use the speech act (operator) as their basic building block. The advantage of this approach is that it addresses the deep structure of electronic commerce transactions rather than the form. This paper aims to reveal higher-level units of speech acts that materialize in so-called meta-analysis patterns. Various levels are defined, from speech acts to scenarios. After patterns have been identified, they can be stored in an FlBC component library and be {re)used effectively by business partners to speed up open-EDI transactions.

On automated message processing in electronic commerce and work support systems

Electronic messaging, whether in an office environment or for electronic commerce, is normally carried out in natural language, even when supported by information systems. For a variety of reasons, it would be useful if electronic messaging systems could have semantic access to, that is, access to the meanings and contents of, the messages they process. Given that natural language understanding is not a practicable alternative, there remain three approaches to delivering systems with semantic access: electronic data interchange (EDI), tagged messages, and the development of a formal language for business communication (FLBC). We favor the latter approach. In this article we compare and contrast these three approaches, present a theoretical basis for an FLBC (using speech act theory), and describe a prototype implementation.

On Designing a Language for Electronic Commerce

:This paper surveys practical issues in the design of a formal language for business communication (FLBC) in which transactions are put together by combining meaningful elements, much as a programming language encodes algorithms. Such a language is preferable to existing codes such as ANSI X12 and UN EDIFACT because of its greater versatility. The new language is tentatively named LEC (language for Electronic Commerce).