The success of PSL as an interchange format among software applications that manipulate process information is crucial. It is crucial because PSL is the most promising effort currently underway that addresses the development of a common process language and that involves the participation of industry leaders. It is also crucial because, if such a language is not adopted soon by the process software development industry, it is doubtful that any other standard will be adopted. As companies invest increasing amounts of time, resources, and technology in developing proprietary mechanisms for the sharing of process information, they will grow more reluctant to adopting a standard that will require significant changes in their strategies.

It is therefore critical that PSL translators for commercial applications be built in the near future. The goal of implementing PSL translators for commercial applications is to demonstrate the adequacy of the language as an information exchange mechanism and its superiority to existing proprietary solutions. KBSI started developing bridges among process-centered applications in the early 1990s and has gain considerable experience in this domain. As a company, we are therefore strategically positioned to both assess the advantages of using PSL as a process information sharing mechanism and influence the market in using PSL as a process interchange language.

The goal of this project is ultimately to help establish PSL as a standard process information sharing mechanism in the commercial arena. A first step towards the realization of that goal is the development of a methodology and of tools to facilitate the implementation of PSL translators. The objectives of this projects are as follows.

	Benchmark PSL against three popular application domains that use the concept of processes. The three candidate application domains will be selected at the beginning of the Phase 1 effort. These benchmark tests will be conducted mainly at an ontological level and will enable the identification of those concepts that are currently supported by PSL and of those that are not.
	Develop detailed design specifications for translators capable of producing and reading process information expressed in PSL for applications in each of the three selected application domains.
	Design a framework for building PSL translators. This framework will include a methodology and a proposed set of tools for supporting the methodology.

Work on this project is being performed in close collaboration with the NIST Development Team.