What Does Cognitive Network (CN) Mean?

A cognitive network is a network that uses cognitive processes to perceive current internal conditions, make decisions based on its findings and then learn from those decisions. A cognitive network is different from other intelligent communicational technologies because it has its own end-to-end goal regarding data flow and is designed to go beyond self-modification.

Techopedia Explains Cognitive Network (CN)

A cognitive network runs parameters of varied layers in the protocol stack. In this kind of network, its protocol are further divided into joint-layer optimization design and cross-layer adaptive design, which is why it can accomplish more than an ordinary cross-layer design.