Abstract: A device operating as a finite state machine and provided for processing events and actions relating to at least one object to be moved between an initial and a final state. The device comprising a processing member connected to a memory. The initial and final states are integrated into at least one event-state-action diagram defining said finite state machine. The event-state-action diagram has a matrix structure where each event-state combination forms a matrix position. Actions formed by transitions, processing actions, and timed actions, are stored at the matrix positions. The processing member is further provided for retrieving the actions and for supplying the retrieved actions to an action dispatcher in order to execute the actions. The action dispatcher comprises, for each action of said third set, an execution routine provided for controlling the execution of the action.

Abstract: The invention includes a state engine system, the system including: a CPU; a memory operatively connected to the CPU, the memory containing a program adapted to be executed by the CPU and the CPU and memory cooperatively adapted for managing a plurality of objects stored in a database, whose behavior can be modeled by means of a state diagram reacting on external events which occur in a non-deterministic order.