A state machine based on the example shown here: http://lamehacks.net/blog/implementing-a-state-machine-in-javascript/ This version uses Underscore and Backbone

gistfile1.js

var states = [
  {
		'name':'working',
		'initial':true,
		'events':{
			'bored':'coffee',
			'call_for_meeting':'meeting',
		}
	},
	{
		'name':'coffee',
		'events':{
			'break_over':'working',
			'call_for_meeting':'meeting'
		}
	},
	{
		'name':'meeting',
		'events':{
			'meetings_over':'working'
		}
	},
];

var State = Backbone.Model.extend({});

var StateMachine = Backbone.Collection.extend({
	
	model:State,
	
	initialize: function(states) {
		
		this.on("reset", this.onReset, this);
		
	},
	
	onReset: function() {
		
		this.currentState = this.where({initial: true})[0];
		this._validate();
		
	},
	
	consumeEvent: function(e) {
		
		var events = this.currentState.get("events");
		
		if(events[e]){
			
			this.currentState = this.where({name: events[e]})[0];
			this._validate();
			
		}else{
			
			console.warn("StateMachine:consumeEvent event ("+e+") does not exist in current state ("+this.getStatus()+")");
			
		}
		
	},
	
	getStatus: function() {
		
		return this.currentState.get("name");
		
	},
	
	_validate: function() {
		
		if(!this.currentState) {
			
			console.warn("StateMachine:consumeEvent currentState is undefined");
			
		}
		
	}
	
});

var sm = new StateMachine(states, {silent: false});
sm.getStatus(); // will return 'working'
 
sm.consumeEvent('bored');
sm.getStatus(); // I went for coffee
 
sm.consumeEvent('call_for_meeting');
sm.getStatus(); //will return 'meeting'
 
sm.consumeEvent('bored'); //doesn't matter how boring a meeting can be...
sm.getStatus(); //will still return 'meeting'
 
sm.consumeEvent('meetings_over')
sm.getStatus(); // 'working'