An Internet-based protocol designed to provide a Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP)-based way to access a generic workflow service or a workflow enabled process or to interoperate with it. SWAP, which has been endorsed by the Workflow Management Coalition (WfMC), will offer a set of standard definitions for the type and structure of messages passed between cooperating workflow systems. SWAP will allow a workflow system to start, monitor, exchange data with and control workflow instances on a different workflow system. It will also provide a way to integrate workflow systems with other Web-based services.