Abstract: To realize the building and controlling of workflow patterns involving multiple instances, a solution was proposed from the perspective of network partition. The implementing method was discussed based on RTWD net proposed by HU Fei-hu, et al. in Patent China 201010114083.9. First, the sub-workflows involving multiple instances should be divided into a subnet. Then the related parameters of multiple instances were defined, and multiple instances were controlled based on it. The paper discussed the controlling of sequential, synchronous and asynchronous parallel workflow patterns involving multiple instances based on the method. Because the divided subnet keeps consistent with the definition of workflow model, multiple instances can be scheduled by original workflow engine, which simplifies the realization of multiple instance patterns.

Key words: workflow, multiple instances, network partition