def METHOD_NAME(self, state=None):
    """To be used to update the state when emiting the "update" signal.
    Args:
        state (str): optional state value
    Returns:
        (enum 'HardwareObjectState'): state.
    """
    if not state:
        state = self.get_state()
    else:
        state = self._value2state(state)
        return self.update_state(state)