What characterizes orthogonal regions in state machines?

The defining characteristic of orthogonal regions in state machines is that they are independent and can respond to events concurrently. This means that when a system is modeled with orthogonal regions, each region can operate separately from the others, allowing multiple states within those regions to be active at the same time. This concurrent behavior gives the system the ability to handle complex scenarios more efficiently, as different aspects of the system can respond to events without waiting for changes in other regions.

This feature is particularly important in scenarios where a system must manage multiple parallel processes or functionalities, making it essential for achieving real-time responsiveness and enhancing system performance. As such, understanding how orthogonal regions function enables modelers to create more versatile and powerful state machine diagrams that accurately represent concurrent behaviors within a system.