Abstract: In a workflow management system based on client/server architecture, centralized server can not only degrade the system performance, but also easily lead to the single-node failure. A decentralized workflow management system is proposed, which applies P2P (peer to peer, that is, to sharethe computer resources and services by direct exchange between systems) concepts to workflow scenarios. Each node within the system acts as a client application, which can also perform functions of a data repository and a process controller. Based on the JXTA realization (project Juxtapose, an opensourced platform which was developed by the Sun Company to support the P2P application) and the application of the medical consultation workflow system, it demonstrates that the decentralized workflow management has good scalability under a dynamic environment, which can also offer higher autonomy for the workflow user.

Key words: workflow management, P2P, JXTA, medical consultation process