A Model-Based Approach for the Transformation and Verification of an IoRT-Aware Business Process

Recently, industries recognized the urgency of the attractive IoRT-aware BPs paradigm that aims to automate the classic business process (BP) using Internet of Robotics Things (IoRT) technology. An IoRT-aware BP can be modeled using the Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) language. Nonetheless, the BPMN lacks a formal aspect, which might cause ambiguities and inconsistencies in the process behaviors. Therefore, to successfully execute an IoRT-aware BP modeled using BPMN and examine their behaviors thoroughly, investing in the Model Driven Engineering (MDE) approach seems intrinsic. With MDE, a BP can be modeled and transformed into a consistent formalism, simplifying its verification. In the literature, there are numerous formalisms (e.g., Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS), Petri Net (PN), etc.) that provide a coherent structure for modeling a BP. In the current research, we deal with DEVS formalism regarding its advantages, marked by its hierarchical structure that facilitates the whole system representation and allows the reuse of models. The purpose of this paper is to provide a model-to-model transformation that facilitates the conversion of an IoRT-aware Business Process (BP) into a DEVS model. Additionally, this paper examines the temporal aspects of the process using DEVS to ensure that it adheres to the required timeframes and constraints. We consider a case study of IoRT-aware BP in agriculture to assess our proposal by checking its intra and inter-sub-process constraints. The results show our approach’s robustness in capturing the violated temporal constraints.