Media-Aware Workflows

In this work, we present Media-Aware Workflows, an extension to Business Process Management Systems (BPMS) and Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) middleware for automating media workflows. The combination of SOA and BPMS technologies provides a robust architectural approach for integrating and orchestrating the multiple heterogeneous systems involved in enterprise-level workflows. However, media-intensive workflows pose a set of unique requirements. For example, typical media processes require utility media services such as transcoding, data movement, content storage, asset and metadata management. Media-specific considerations regarding formats, profiles, large file sizes and content security must be taken into account for every step of the media workflow. Difference in culture between the IT and the operational/media engineering departments must also be addressed for a successful SOA adoption. Media-Aware Workflows provides a robust layered system controlled by domain-specific business rules to address media specific requirements. The novelty of our approach is based on the combination of static and dynamic workflow composition and the ability to automate control of the media specific aspects of the workflow with business rules, providing clear separation of roles for business experts, IT personnel and media engineers.