Phala
Overview
Phala is a system which assists scientific experimentation by aiding the design of workflows or making suggestions for "next steps" in an experimental process. Phala is a hybrid system relying mostly on a Case-Based Reasoning component which mines its case-base from a provenance database, such as that provided by Karma.
Phala works through a client-server model. Plug-ins for workflow editors provide user interaction through suggested edits to a partially completed workflow. These plug-ins communicate the workflow status to a server which generates the suggestions. This architecture protects potentially proprietary information while retaining functionalisty for individual users.
Upcoming Release
A release is currently being developed and expected in Spring 2009. This release will include the server software and plug-ins for the Life Science Grid, an open source biochem discovery cyberinfrastructure promoted by Eli Lilly Corp, and a modified version of XBaya workflow editor.
Publications
- David B. Leake, Joseph Kendall-Morwick. Towards Case-Based Support for e-Science Workflow Generation by Mining Provenance. ECCBR 2008: 269-283
Contact
Joseph Kendall-Morwick [jmorwick at indiana dot edu]
