icated concept of Cognition Networks, its functions and require- ments are inclined to be defined and located by a series of self-functions, such as self- awareness, self-organization, self-learning, self-optimizing, and SO forth. According to definitions and understandings of this chapter, characteristics of Cognitive Networks are divided into basic and extended characteristics and basic ones can be expanded by extended ones. Three levels of characteristics can be depicted by Figure 6.3. As depicted by Figure 6.3, characteristics of Cognitive Networks can be divided into three basic levels-self-aware, self-organization, and autonomy, all of which also include more detailed extended characteristics or functions. Detailed informa- tion on these three levels of characteristics is provided as follows: High level Self-configuring Self-optimizing Autonomy Self-healing Self-protecting Self-learning Self-reasoning Self-organization Self-interacting Self-sustaining Self-aware level Figure 6.3 Characteristics of cognitive networks. (Zheng, Y., Lu, H.-H. and Sun, Y.-F. The Second International Symposium on Intelligent Information Technology Application, Vol. 3, pp. 137-140. © 2008 IEEE.) Service Delivery Platforms 6.3.2.3.1 Self-Awareness Self-awareness is the basic characteristic of Cognitive Networks and also prerequi- site and guarantee for characteristics of self-organization and self-autonomy. Meanings of self-awareness can be drawn from several perspectives. From the perspective of the whole Cognitive Networks, self-awareness represents an ability of self-recognizing, modeling, controlling, and managing. From the perspective of functions of Cognitive Networks, self-awareness depicts a process of information collecting, filtering, reporting, and also feedbacking. While from the perspective of customers, self-awareness is a kind of intelligence which conceals detailed processes of perception and operation and makes customers likely to feel that it is self- adjusting and adaptive of operating. 6.3.2.3.2 Self-Organizatio