Workflow management as teleservice

The rapidly growing networks that connect more and more computers offer new levels of communication. This is also valid for the area of workflow management. The VORTEL Project defines a teleservice for the interoperability of workflow management systems. This teleservice integrates heterogeneous workfllow managernent systems of different vendors and allows distributed workflow management. The teleservice consists of a set of protocols for the communication of different classes of workflow management systems components. This paper introduces the generic VORTEL architecture and describes one of the defined protocols in detail. Furthermore, a vision of the use of a workflow teleservice as a public service is given.