Method for controlling workflow

An apparatus for controlling state transition of an electronic object in a workflow, said apparatus comprising a processor, memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

• receiving a request for a state transition for an electronic object from a user;
• determining the current state of the object from a metadata of the electronic object;
• determining the next state after the state transition from the request;
• determining one or more pseudo-users that are allowed to perform a state transition from the current state to the next state;
• retrieving at least one person identity by utilizing at least one property in a metadata of the electronic object, which person identity is retrieved from a value of a property corresponding to the determined one or more pseudo-users;
• comparing the identity of the requesting user to the retrieved person identity, and if they match;
• and
• performing a state transition according to the request.

A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium bearing computer program code embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer program code comprising:

• code for receiving a request for a state transition for an electronic object from a user;
• code for determining the current state of the object from a metadata of the electronic object;
• code for determining the next state after the state transition from the request;
• code for determining one or more pseudo-users that are allowed to perform a state transition from the current state to the next state;
• code for retrieving at least one person identity by utilizing at least one property in a metadata of the electronic object, which person identity is retrieved from a value of a property corresponding to the determined one or more pseudo-users;
• code for comparing the identity of the requesting user to the retrieved person identity, and if they match;
• and
• code for performing a state transition according to the request.