Soliton-like elementary excitations in bistable systems, whose energie
s of different equilibrium states are not equal, are considered. Parti
cular physical systems described by a common Hamiltonian are discussed
in the framework of proposed approach. The analysis of the continuum
equation of motion demonstrates the existence in such systems both of
the nontopological solitons connected with energy transfer and topolog
ical solitons describing the transitions between different states (sta
te transfer). Computer simulation data are compared with solutions of
analytical models.