The Wisdom of Crowds: Cognitive Ad Hoc Networks

Cognitive ad hoc networks are a natural endpoint for the evolution of the contemporary mobile, ad hoc network (MANET). In order for ad hoc networks to fulfill the promise that their title implies, they need to move beyond being merely mobile, peer-to-peer, distributed systems. For an ad hoc network to deliver a truly ad hoc networking service, it needs to evolve to a stage where the network can discover networking solutions beyond those tested in the laboratory, and which allow it to provide a networking service which is fit for purpose. In this chapter, we suggest that the cognition cycle, as envisioned by Mitola [34], be adopted by the network-wide system. To do this we differentiate between node and network-level cognitive processing and show that there is need to investigate how a cognitive ad hoc network would go about orienting, deciding, planning and learning. While network-level cognition may be more readily incorporated into infrastructure-based networks, the transient and distributed nature of mobile ad hoc networks is a challenging environment for any kind of collective activity, be it agreement or learning. In order to meet the challenge, it is necessary to look beyond the traditional methods used in distributed systems. Therefore, we present a discussion of some observed social conventions which enable loosely associated groups of people to pool knowledge so as to collectively learn and to make decisions which would otherwise require the intervention of a centralized expert. The title of the chapter is in fact borrowed from one of the titles referenced in the discussion, namely the book by James Surowiecki entitled The Wisdom