Workflow Timed Critical Path Optimization

Approaches to shorten workflow execution time have been discussed in many area of computer engineering such as parallel and distributed systems, a computer circuit, and PERT chart for project management. To optimize workflow model structure of workflow, an approach with corresponding algorithms is proposed to cut timed critical path of workflow schema, which has the longest average execution time path from the start activity to the end activity. Through systematically analyzing the dependency relationships between tasks at build-time, traditional optimization method of critical path is improved through adding selective and parallel control structures into workflow schemas. Data dependency rules are converted to control dependency rules according to semantic rules mined. Further more, consistency between tasks is guaranteed. Finally, to explain validity of the algorithm proposed, an experiment is provided to compare optimized model with original using critical path identification algorithm. [Nature and Science. 2005;3(2):65-74].