International Conference for Internet Technology and Secured Transactions (ICITST 2007), May 21‒23, 2007, London, UK. www.icitst.org ISBN 0-9546628-2-2 © e•Centre for Infonomics
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Utilising WS-BPEL business processes
through ebXML BPSS
Bahareh Rahmanzadeh Heravi
Mohammadreza Razzazi
Computer Engineering and Information Technology Department
Amirkabir University of Technology
Tehran, Iran
rahmanzadeh@gmail.com, razzazi@ce.aut.ac.ir
Abstract: ebXML as a B2B framework has a standard for defining Business Processes called BPSS (Business Process Specifica-
tion Schema). On the other hand Web Services provide an interoperable environment for e-business that is flexible but not spe-
cialised enough. Our aim is to make use of Web Services and their Business Processes through ebXML. WS-BPEL (Web Services
Business Process Execution Language) is the de-facto standard for combining and orchestrating web services. In this paper, we
will concentrate on the Business Processes in B2B collaborations and will present how to model an ebXML Business Process on a
WS-BPEL process, enabling us to work with web services through an interoperable B2B framework, which is ebXML.
Keywords: ebXML, BPSS, Business Process, Workflow, WS-BPEL, Service Oriented Architecture.
1 INTRODUCTION
ebXML is a B2B framework, which enables enterprises of any size to conduct business over the Internet from any geographical
location. It is an initiative of OASIS and the UN/CEFACT and since March 2004 is approved by ISO as new set of standards
under ISO 15000. Shortly after the conception of ebXML in 1999, work on Web Services technology started. ebXML and Web
Services are both technologies for enabling B2B partnerships and business transactions over the internet. Since Web Services are
highly flexible and widely accepted in research and industry, they are suitable for conducting e-business. However, they are neither
specialised for e-business nor limited to it, while ebXML has its power in its strong conceptual background for B2B e-business.
herefore, it is highly desirable to be able to use Web Services through ebXML framework.
Business processes are one of the most important parts of B2B collaborations. herefore, in this paper we focus on the Business
Processes and suggest a guideline for enabling the use of Service Oriented Business Processes and execute their related Web Serv-
ices through ebXML framework.
ebXML has its own standard for defining Business Processes called BPSS (Business Process Specification Schema). On the other
hand WS-BPEL (Web Services Business Process Execution Language) is the de-facto standard for specifying Service Oriented
Business Processes. To achieve our goal, which is utilising Web Service Business Processes through ebXML, we have concluded
that the way forward is to simulate an ebXML Business Process from a WS-BPEL process. It means that, we will define an ebXML
Business Process that can mimic the characteristics of a WS-BPEL Business Process. In this way, keeping the interoperability,
without changing any of the standards in ebXML, trading partners would be able to search for a specific Business Process in the
traditional ebXML way, but discover Service Oriented Business Processes and their related Web Services and execute them. his
is not a substitute, but an addition to the ebXML Business Processes.