Finite state machine in a portable thread environment

Abstract

A finite state machine in a portable thread environment is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system comprises a finite state machine operating within a portable thread environment; and one or more PTE message generators configured to pass state information contained in PTE messages to the finite state machine, wherein the finite state machine changes states according to the state information.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system, comprising: 
 a finite state machine operating within a portable thread environment; and    one or more PTE message generators configured to pass event information contained in PTE messages to the finite state machine, wherein the finite state machine changes states according to the event information.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the event information comprises one or more events passed to a thread and a present state of the finite state machine.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the finite state machine comprises: 
 a message interpreter configured to accept the PTE messages; wherein the interpreter maps the messages to actions using the look-up table.    
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the finite state machine further comprises: 
 a storage device for storing the one or more actions.    
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the finite state machine further comprises: 
 a state changer configured to change the state of the finite state machine based upon event information and the previous state of the finite state machine.    
     
     
         6 . A method comprising: 
 receiving PTE messages by a finite state machine in a portable thread environment, wherein the messages contain event information;    mapping the state transition information with actions stored in a storage device; and    changing from a first state to a second state based upon the first state and the event information.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the finite state machine stays in the first state based upon the first state and the actions.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 generating state machine events relating to the state of the finite state machine.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 distributing the state machine events between one or more threads in the portable thread environment.    
     
     
         10 . The method as in  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 distributing the state machine events between one or more threads in the portable thread environment and a second portable thread environment.    
     
     
         11 . A system, comprising: 
 means for receiving PTE messages by a finite state machine in a portable thread environment, wherein the messages contain event information;    means for mapping the event information with actions stored in a storage device; and    means for changing from a first state to a second state based upon the first state and the event.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the finite state machine stays in the first state based upon the first state and the event.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 means for generating state machine events indicating a state of the finite state machine.    
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 means for distributing the state machine events between one or more threads in the portable thread environment.    
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 means for distributing the state machine events between one or more threads in the portable thread environment and a second portable thread environment.    
     
     
         16 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to perform: 
 receiving PTE messages by a finite state machine in a portable thread environment, wherein the messages contain event information;    mapping the event information with actions stored in a storage device; and    changing from a first state to a second state based upon the first state and the event.    
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the finite state machine stays in the first state based upon the first state and the events.  
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17  having stored thereon additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to further perform: 
 generating state machine events indicating a state of the finite state machine.  
 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 18  having stored thereon additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to further perform: 
 distributing the state machine events between one or more threads in the portable thread environment.  
 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 19  having stored thereon additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to further perform: 
 distributing the state machine events between one or more threads in the portable thread environment and a second portable thread environment.