Cognitive Networks: Towards Self-Aware Networks

7.3. CRA II: The Cognition Cycle

The CRA consists of a set of design rules by which the cognitive level of information services may be achieved by a specified set of components in a way that supports the cost-effective evolution of increasingly capable implementations over time ^[]. The cognition subsystem of the architecture includes an inference hierarchy and the temporal organization and flow of inferences and control states, the cognition cycle.

7.3.1. The Cognition Cycle

The cognition cycle developed for CR1 ^[] is illustrated in Figure 7.4. This cycle implements the capabilities required of iCR in a reactive sequence. Stimuli enter the cognitive radio as sensory interrupts, dispatched to the cognition cycle for a response. Such an iCR continually observes (senses and perceives) the environment, orients itself, creates plans, decides, and then acts. In a single-processor inference system, the CR's flow of control may also move in the cycle from observation to action. In a multiprocessor system, temporal structures of sensing, preprocessing, reasoning and acting may be parallel and complex. Special features synchronize the inferences of each phase. The tutorial code of ^[] all works on a single processor in a rigid inference sequence defined in the figure. This process is called the wake epoch because the primary reasoning activities during this large epoch of time are reactive to the environment. We will refer to 'sleep epochs' for power down condition, 'dream epochs' for performing ...