DISTRIBUTED PROCESS APPARATUS AND METHOD

A system and apparatus for automatically executing process steps by processing devices transmitted, over a communication channel, using a workflow file to specify the process steps. Devices are used to edit, initiate, and observe workflow execution. Editing comprises selecting process steps, executing parameter selection software supplied by the processing device, and drawing links between icons. Once workflow execution is initiated, workflow data is passed from one processing device to the next. Each processing device performs the process step specified by the workflow file with the selected parameters and optionally sends status information to observing devices. This sequence continues until all process steps are executed or an error occurs.