1. A method for cross-triggering transitions of independent finite state machines comprising: identifying a plurality of finite state machine definitions, each finite state machine definition comprising a plurality of states and a plurality of transitions among the states; creating independent instances of the identified finite state machine definitions; identifying an association between at least two of the independent finite state machine instances; identifying a cross-triggering rule comprising a condition in a first one of the associated independent finite state machine instances that triggers a transition action in a second one of the associated independent finite state machine instances; triggering the cross-triggering rule upon an occurrence of the cross-triggering rule condition; and performing the transition action in the second associated independent finite state machine instance in response to the triggering of the cross-triggering rule.