Process Design Pattern and a Realistic Information Model

Biomimetics is the examination of nature, its models, systems, processes, and elements to emulate or take inspiration from, in order to solve human problems. The term Biomimetics comes from the Greek words bios, meaning life, and mimesis, meaning to imitate. Applications of Biomimetics have led to innumerable advances in science and engineering. The Computer Science field is no exception, especially, since computer systems seek to provide a complete and accurate model of the real world (i.e. realistic). A complete and realistic information model should include the following abstractions: a collection of independent entities or individuals, some of which are Live or Animated, interacting with each other and/or interchanging information via Messaging within the context of predefined information Processes. Live or Animated entities are able to process information and exhibit independent behavior. These ubiquitous abstractions mirror nature and the world around us. Therefore, they can be found everywhere: communities, organizations, companies, human body processes, applications consisting of local and distributed components interchanging information and working cooperatively within the context of a process, etc. Mainstream traditional models and technologies tend to overlook some, if not all, of the proposed abstractions and therefore provide an incomplete model. The implementation of traditional distributed and multithreaded applications/processes becomes a complex endeavor, costly, and time consuming, hindered by shortcomings and limitations: a) Complexity and rigidity. b) Lack of decoupling, encapsulation and reusability. c) Scalability limitations. d) Lack of interoperability. e) Technology, language, platform, protocol and data format dependencies. On the other hand, a realistic information paradigm and its associated abstractions address the shortcomings and provide a more complete model. As a consequence, software engineering processes and techniques are improved in terms of encapsulation, decoupling, reusability, scalability, interoperability, overall complexity, implementation cost/timeframe, and so forth. The proposed abstractions also separate the critical information aspect, a cornerstone of information processes, from other aspects such as how the information is stored, represented, transferred, secured, processed and so forth.