An iterative algorithm for applying the theory of regions in process mining

The research domain of process mining, or more specifically process discovery, aims at constructing a process model as an abstract representation of an event log. The goal is to build a model (i.e. in terms of a Petri net) that (1) can reproduce the log under consideration, and (2) does not allow for much more behaviour than shown in the log. The Theory of Regions can be used to transform a state-based model (such as a transition system) into a Petri net that exactly mimics the behaviour of the transition system. In this paper, we use the Theory of Regions to do process discovery, and we address two problems. First, we show how event logs that do not carry state information can be transformed into transition systems. Second, we deal with the problem of large logs, by showing that the proposed algorithm can be made iterative over the traces in a log, i.e. we change the complexity of the algorithm, such that it requires significantly less space, but more time.

[1]  G. Michele Pinna,et al.  Synthesis of Nets with Inhibitor Arcs , 1997, CONCUR.

[2]  Grzegorz Rozenberg,et al.  Elementary Transition Systems , 1990, Theor. Comput. Sci..

[3]  Jörg Desel,et al.  Free Choice Petri Nets (Cambridge Tracts in Theoretical Computer Science) , 2005 .

[4]  Wil M. P. van der Aalst,et al.  Rediscovering workflow models from event-based data using little thumb , 2003, Integr. Comput. Aided Eng..

[5]  Alexander L. Wolf,et al.  Discovering models of software processes from event-based data , 1998, TSEM.

[6]  Wolfgang Reisig,et al.  The synthesis problem of Petri nets , 1993, Acta Informatica.

[7]  Philippe Darondeau,et al.  Theory of Regions , 1996, Petri Nets.

[8]  Boudewijn F. van Dongen,et al.  Workflow mining: A survey of issues and approaches , 2003, Data Knowl. Eng..

[9]  Philippe Darondeau,et al.  Trace nets and process automata , 1995, Acta Informatica.

[10]  Boudewijn F. van Dongen,et al.  The ProM Framework: A New Era in Process Mining Tool Support , 2005, ICATPN.

[11]  Wil M. P. van der Aalst,et al.  Workflow mining: discovering process models from event logs , 2004, IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering.

[12]  Luciano Lavagno,et al.  A region-based theory for state assignment in speed-independent circuits , 1997, IEEE Trans. Comput. Aided Des. Integr. Circuits Syst..

[13]  Roberto Gorrieri,et al.  A Survey on Non-interference with Petri Nets , 2003, Lectures on Concurrency and Petri Nets.

[14]  Andrzej Ehrenfeucht,et al.  Partial (set) 2-structures , 1990, Acta Informatica.

[15]  Jan Mendling,et al.  Interoperability in the ProM Framework , 2006, EMOI-INTEROP.

[16]  P. S. Thiagarajan,et al.  An Event Structure Semantics for General Petri Nets , 1996, Theor. Comput. Sci..

[17]  Madhavan Mukund.  Petri Nets and Step Transition Systems , 1992, Int. J. Found. Comput. Sci..

[18]  Wil M. P. van der Aalst,et al.  Mining Social Networks: Uncovering Interaction Patterns in Business Processes , 2004, Business Process Management.

[19]  Thomas Teufel,et al.  Sap R/3 Process Oriented Implementation , 1998 .

[20]  Tadao Murata,et al.  Petri nets: Properties, analysis and applications , 1989, Proc. IEEE.

[21]  Luciano Lavagno,et al.  Petrify: A Tool for Manipulating Concurrent Specifications and Synthesis of Asynchronous Controllers (Special Issue on Asynchronous Circuit and System Design) , 1997 .

[22]  Wil M.P. van der Aalst,et al.  Genetic Process Mining , 2005, ICATPN.

[23]  Andrzej Ehrenfeucht,et al.  Partial (set) 2-structures , 1990, Acta Informatica.

[24]  Wolfgang Reisig,et al.  Lectures on Petri Nets I: Basic Models , 1996, Lecture Notes in Computer Science.

[25]  Dimitrios Gunopulos,et al.  Mining Process Models from Workflow Logs , 1998, EDBT.

[26]  Luca Bernardinello,et al.  Synthesis of Net Systems , 1993, Application and Theory of Petri Nets.

[27]  Wil M.P. van der Aalst,et al.  Process Mining : A Two-Step Approach using Transition Systems and Regions , 2006 .

[28]  Joachim Herbst,et al.  A Machine Learning Approach to Workflow Management , 2000, ECML.