Automating workflows for service provisioning: integrating AI and database technologies

Workflows are the structured activities that take place in information systems in typical business environments. These activities frequently involve several database systems, user interfaces, and application programs. Traditional database systems do not support workflows to any reasonable extent. Usually, human beings must intervene to ensure their proper execution. We have developed an architecture based on AI technology that automatically manages workflows. This architecture executes on top of a distributed computing environment. It has been applied to automating service provisioning workflows; an implementation that operates on one such workflow has been developed. This work advances the Camel Project's goal of developing technologies for integrating heterogeneous database systems. It is notable in its marriage of AI approaches with standard distributed database techniques.<>