Performance Evaluation of Workflows Using Continuous Petri Nets with Interval Firing Speeds

  • Authors:

  • Kunihiko Hiraishi

  • Affiliations:

  • School of Information Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Ishikawa, Japan 923-1292

  • Venue:
  • PETRI NETS '08 Proceedings of the 29th international conference on Applications and Theory of Petri Nets
  • Year:
  • 2008

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Abstract

In this paper, we study performance evaluation of workflow-based information systems. Because of state space explosion, analysis by stochastic models, such as stochastic Petri nets and queuing models, is not suitable for workflow systems in which a large number of flow instances run concurrently. We use fluid-flow approximation technique to overcome this difficulty. In the proposed method, GSPN (Generalized Stochastic Petri Nets) models representing workflows are approximated by a class of timed continuous Petri nets, called routing timed continuous Petri nets (RTCPN). In RTCPN models, each discrete set is approximated by a continuous region on a real-valued vector space, and variance in probability distribution is replaced with a real-valued interval. Next we derive piecewise linear systems from RTCPN models, and use interval methods to compute guaranteed enclosures for state variables. As a case study, we solve an optimal resource assignment problem for a paper review process.