System, method, and program for utilizing a software state machine carrying out the process flow of a software program

摘要

A system, method, and program utilizes a software state machine for carrying out the processes and functions of a program. The components of a program, e.g., the process flow, functions, dialogs, etc., are implemented using various states. A value of a state variable indicates a corresponding state. A method checks for a current value of the state variable. Any given function within any given state, or input received from a user, such as through “next” or “previous” buttons on a dialog box, can return a value for the state variable. When the method determines a new value of the state variable, an object corresponding to the state indicated by the new value is brought up and enabled. A vector keeps track of the sequence of states being executed so that a value indicating a previous state will return the program to the previous state without having program logic built into a state of how the program arrived at that state. A program utilizing a software state machine is easily customized by merely adding or deleting states or by changing a value of the state variable returned for a given function within a state or for any given input received. As such, new functions can be added to a program by adding new states; functions can be deleted by deleting states; and the flow of the program can be changed by changing a value of the state variable that is returned.