Cognitive Networks: Towards Self-Aware Networks

2.8. Glossary

The following are definitions of key terms used in this chapter:

• Autonomic – Autonomic has many definitions. For the purposes of this chapter, autonomic is defined as self-governing. This is not the same as self-managing. Imagine a black box. A self-managing black box is one in which policies that are applied to the black box are able to handle user needs and environmental conditions. Practice has shown that predefined policies are not sufficiently flexible to accomplish this. Therefore, a self-governing system is one in which the system uses self-knowledge and adjusts its behavior to take into account changing user needs, business goals and environmental conditions.

• Autonomic network – An autonomic network is one which supports the dynamic delivery of services and resources, as directed by business goals, wherein the nature of said services and resources adapt to the changing environment. Business goals are enforced by using policies to control the structure and operation of one or more closed control loops, which control the reconfiguration functions.

• Autonomic system – An autonomic system is a self-governing system, in which the governance model is expressed using policies. Governance takes the form of a closed control loop, in which the autonomic system senses changes in itself and its environment, analyzes those changes to ensure that business goals and objectives are still being met, plans changes to be made if business goals and objectives are threatened, executes ...