Glossary / The three states: empty, active, passive
The three states: empty, active, passive
DefinitionEvery relation is either empty (l, never activated), active (a, currently sending and receiving), or passive (p, learned but currently quiet).
Status ∈ { empty, active, passive }. An empty relation has not yet received a signal. A passive relation is not currently carrying a signal but already represents a learned connection. An active relation is sending and receiving right now.
The crucial point: once a relation has been active, it never becomes empty again. From then on it only swings between active and passive. In any situation we mostly perceive the active relations — they light up and decide how we feel. We overlook most of the situation: the passive and empty relations.