Shared belief in communication constrained networks

Networked systems that gather sensor data in order to re act to phenomena in their surroundings are faced with a growing need for adaptive behavior to operate in dynam ically changing environments. In designing such a net worked system we decompose the data processing chain in distinct functions. These functional components inter act by requesting information they need and fulfilling re quests that are received from other components. Evaluation of the available data with respect to the different requests and available resources is a key process in each component. A new evaluation method is presented which is capable of balancing the information value against the resource costs of data. An example of cooperating object tracking mod ules is presented.