FINITE STATE MACHINES FOR IMPLEMENTING WORKFLOWS FOR DATA OBJECTS MANAGED BY A DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM

摘要

Techniques for using finite state machines (FSMs) to implement workflows in a data processing system comprising at least one data store storing data objects and a workflow management system (WMS). The WMS is configured to perform: determining a current value of an attribute of a first data object by accessing the current value in the at least one data store; identifying, using the current value and metadata specifying relationships among at least some of the data objects, an actor authorized to perform a workflow task for the first data object; generating a GUI through which the actor can provide the input that the workflow task is to be performed; and in response to receiving, from the actor and through the GUI, input specifying that the workflow task is to be performed: performing the workflow task; and updating the current workflow state of the first FSM to a second workflow state.