A computer-implementable method employs radio signal metadata to train a cognitive learning and inference system to produce an inferred function, wherein the metadata comprises a syntactic structure of at least one radio communication protocol. The inferred function is used to map metadata of a detected radio signal to a cognitive profile of a transmitter of the detected radio signal. The mapping effects intelligent discrimination of the transmitter from at least one other transmitter through corroborative or negating evidentiary observation of properties associated with the metadata of the detected radio signal. A response to the transmitter is based upon the mapping.