Intelligent State engine system

• US 20050182638A1
• Filed: 02/12/2004
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neovia Logistics IP Holdings LLC (Neovia Logistics Services LLC)
• Original Assignee: S.A. Texaco Belgium N.V.
• Inventors: Vernier, Dominique, Odent, Stephane V., Van de Putte, Dimitri
• Granted Patent: US 7,421,546 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

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. The program contained in the memory includes a code segment embodied on a computer-readable medium configured and adapted for creating, storing and maintaining state diagram templates in a database, the database including all states available for the object, the possible state transitions, the events which cause state transitions, and the actions which occur upon state transitions: where there is at least one event causing each state transition; and where the actions which occur upon a state transition is dependent upon the event that caused the transition; a code segment embodied on a computer-readable medium configured and adapted for creating a new instance of a state diagram for each new object and maintaining its current state in the running state diagram; a code segment embodied on a computer-readable medium configured and adapted for receiving notification of an event and applying it to the relevant running state diagram; a code segment embodied on a computer-readable medium configured and adapted for causing a state transition upon receiving notification of a event; and a code segment embodied on a computer-readable medium configured and adapted for causing the occurrence of one or more pre-determined actions triggered by a state transition, where one of the pre-determined actions is the initiation of a timer, where the timer is configured to cause an event to occur after a pre-determined time.

Claims

1. A state engine system, the system comprising:

a. a CPU;

b. 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;

c. a code segment embodied on a computer-readable medium configured and adapted for creating, storing and maintaining state diagram templates in a database, the database comprising all states available for the object, the possible state transitions, the events which cause state transitions, and the actions which occur upon state transitions;

i. wherein there is at least one event causing each state transition; and

ii. wherein the actions which occur upon a state transition is dependent upon the event that caused the transition;

d. a code segment embodied on a computer-readable medium configured and adapted for creating a new instance of a state diagram for each new object and maintaining its current state in the running state diagram;

e. a code segment embodied on a computer-readable medium configured and adapted for receiving notification of an event and applying it to the relevant running state diagram;

f. a code segment embodied on a computer-readable medium configured and adapted for causing a state transition upon receiving notification of a event; and

g. a code segment embodied on a computer-readable medium configured and adapted for causing the occurrence of one or more pre-determined actions triggered by a state transition, wherein one of the pre-determined actions is the initiation of a timer, wherein the timer is configured to cause an event to occur after a pre-determined time.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the code segment for causing the occurrence of one or more pre-determined actions triggered by a state transition, further comprises a code segment for querying whether the state of the object immediately prior to causing the occurrence of the one or more pre-determined actions, and where the state of the object has changed, canceling one or more of the pre-determined actions.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the querying whether the state of the object has changed occurs from about one second to about five minutes prior to causing the occurrence of the one or more pre-determined actions.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the states in the state diagram comprise a Parcel-In-Transit state and Parcel-Read-For-Pick-Up state.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each new object represents a physical parcel.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein an event causing a state transition comprises delivery of a parcel to a pick-up location.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein a pre-determined action triggered by a state transition comprises notification of customer that parcel is ready for pick up.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the event occurring after a pre-determined time comprises the raising of a system operator flag.

9. A state engine system, the system comprising:

a. a CPU;

b. 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;

c. a code segment embodied on a computer-readable medium configured and adapted for creating, storing and maintaining state diagram templates in a database, the database comprising all states available for the object, the possible state transitions, the events which cause state transitions, and the actions which occur upon state transitions;

i. wherein there is at least one event causing each state transition; and

ii. wherein the actions which occur upon a state transition is dependent upon the event that caused the transition;

d. a code segment embodied on a computer-readable medium configured and adapted for creating a new instance of a state diagram for each new object and maintaining its current state in the running state diagram;

e. a code segment embodied on a computer-readable medium configured and adapted for receiving notification of an event and applying it to the relevant running state diagram;

f. a code segment embodied on a computer-readable medium configured and adapted for causing a state transition upon receiving notification of a event; and

g. a code segment embodied on a computer-readable medium configured and adapted for causing the occurrence of one or more pre-determined actions triggered by a state transition, wherein one of the pre-determined actions is the initiation of a timer, wherein the timer is configured to cause an event to occur after a pre-determined time;

h. a code segment embodied on a computer-readable medium configured and adapted for immediately prior to causing the occurrence of the one or more pre-determined actions in step (g), querying whether the state of the object has changed and where the state of the object has changed, canceling one or more of the pre-determined actions.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the querying whether the state of the object has changed occurs from about one second to about five minutes prior to causing the occurrence of the one or more pre-determined actions.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the states in the state diagram comprise a Parcel-In-Transit state and Parcel-Read-For-Pick-Up state.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein each new object represents a physical parcel.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein an event causing a state transition comprises delivery of a parcel to a pick-up location.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein a pre-determined action triggered by a state transition comprises notification of customer that parcel is ready for pick up.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the event occurring after a pre-determined time comprises the raising of a system operator flag.

16. A method of operating a computer-implemented state engine 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, the method comprising:

a. creating, storing and maintaining state diagram templates in a database, the database comprising all states available for the object, the possible state transitions, the events which cause state transitions, and the actions which occur upon state transitions;

i. wherein there is at least one event causing each state transition; and

ii. wherein the actions which occur upon a state transition is dependent upon the event that caused the transition;

b. creating a new instance of a state diagram for each new object and maintaining its current state in the running state diagram;

c. receiving notification of an event and applying it to the relevant running state diagram;

d. causing a state transition upon receiving notification of a event;

e. causing the occurrence of one or more pre-determined actions triggered by a state transition, wherein one of the pre-determined actions is the initiation of a timer, wherein the timer is configured to cause an event to occur after a pre-determined time; and

f. immediately prior to causing the occurrence of the one or more pre-determined actions in step (g), querying whether the state of the object has changed and where the state of the object has changed, canceling one or more of the pre-determined actions.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step for querying whether the state of the object has changed occurs from about one second to about five minutes prior to causing the occurrence of the one or more pre-determined actions.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the states in the state diagram comprise a Parcel-In-Transit state and Parcel-Read-For-Pick-Up state.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein each new object represents a physical parcel.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein an event causing a state transition comprises delivery of a parcel to a pick-up location.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein a pre-determined action triggered by a state transition comprises notification of customer that parcel is ready for pick up.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the event occurring after a pre-determined time comprises the raising of a system operator flag.

23. A machine-readable program storage medium tangibly embodying sequences of instructions, the sequences of instructions for execution by at least one processing system for operating a computer-implemented state engine 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, sequences of instructions to perform steps for:

a. creating, storing and maintaining state diagram templates in a database, the database comprising all states available for the object, the possible state transitions, the events which cause state transitions, and the actions which occur upon state transitions;

i. wherein there is at least one event causing each state transition; and

ii. wherein the actions which occur upon a state transition is dependent upon the event that caused the transition;

b. creating a new instance of a state diagram for each new object and maintaining its current state in the running state diagram;

c. receiving notification of an event and applying it to the relevant running state diagram;

d. causing a state transition upon receiving notification of a event; and

e. causing the occurrence of one or more pre-determined actions triggered by a state transition, wherein one of the pre-determined actions is the initiation of a timer, wherein the timer is configured to cause an event to occur after a pre-determined time; and

f. immediately prior to causing the occurrence of the one or more pre-determined actions in step (g), querying whether the state of the object has changed and where the state of the object has changed, canceling one or more of the pre-determined actions.

24. The machine-readable program storage medium of claim 23, wherein the querying whether the state of the object has changed occurs from about one second to about five minutes prior to causing the occurrence of the one or more pre-determined actions.

25. The machine-readable program storage medium of claim 23, wherein the states in the state diagram comprise a Parcel-In-Transit state and Parcel-Read-For-Pick-Up state.

26. The machine-readable program storage medium of claim 23, wherein each new object represents a physical parcel.

27. The machine-readable program storage medium of claim 23, wherein an event causing a state transition comprises delivery of a parcel to a pick-up location.

28. The machine-readable program storage medium of claim 23, wherein a pre-determined action triggered by a state transition comprises notification of customer that parcel is ready for pick up.

29. The machine-readable program storage medium of claim 23, wherein the event occurring after a pre-determined time comprises the raising of a system operator flag.