Add window zone biases for record/decode actions

cmd/sdrd/level_summary.go

@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ type CandidateEvidenceStateSummary struct {
 type CandidateWindowSummary struct {
 	Index        int     `json:"index"`
 	Label        string  `json:"label,omitempty"`
+	Zone         string  `json:"zone,omitempty"`
 	Source       string  `json:"source,omitempty"`
 	StartHz      float64 `json:"start_hz,omitempty"`
 	EndHz        float64 `json:"end_hz,omitempty"`
@@ -53,6 +54,8 @@ type CandidateWindowSummary struct {
 	SpanHz       float64 `json:"span_hz,omitempty"`
 	Priority     float64 `json:"priority,omitempty"`
 	PriorityBias float64 `json:"priority_bias,omitempty"`
+	RecordBias   float64 `json:"record_bias,omitempty"`
+	DecodeBias   float64 `json:"decode_bias,omitempty"`
 	AutoRecord   bool    `json:"auto_record,omitempty"`
 	AutoDecode   bool    `json:"auto_decode,omitempty"`
 	Candidates   int     `json:"candidates"`
@@ -230,6 +233,7 @@ func buildCandidateWindowSummary(candidates []pipeline.Candidate, windows []pipe
 		entry := CandidateWindowSummary{
 			Index:        win.Index,
 			Label:        win.Label,
+			Zone:         win.Zone,
 			Source:       win.Source,
 			StartHz:      win.StartHz,
 			EndHz:        win.EndHz,
@@ -237,6 +241,8 @@ func buildCandidateWindowSummary(candidates []pipeline.Candidate, windows []pipe
 			SpanHz:       win.SpanHz,
 			Priority:     win.Priority,
 			PriorityBias: win.PriorityBias,
+			RecordBias:   win.RecordBias,
+			DecodeBias:   win.DecodeBias,
 			AutoRecord:   win.AutoRecord,
 			AutoDecode:   win.AutoDecode,
 		}

internal/config/config.go

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ type Band struct {
 
 type MonitorWindow struct {
 	Label      string  `yaml:"label" json:"label"`
+	Zone       string  `yaml:"zone" json:"zone"`
 	StartHz    float64 `yaml:"start_hz" json:"start_hz"`
 	EndHz      float64 `yaml:"end_hz" json:"end_hz"`
 	CenterHz   float64 `yaml:"center_hz" json:"center_hz"`

internal/pipeline/decision_queue.go

@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ type queuedDecision struct {
 	Hint       string
 	Class      string
 	WindowTag  string
+	WindowZone string
 	WindowBias float64
 	FirstSeen  time.Time
 	LastSeen   time.Time
@@ -65,6 +66,7 @@ type queueSelection struct {
 	familyRanks     map[int64]int
 	tierFloors      map[int64]string
 	windowTags      map[int64]string
+	windowZones     map[int64]string
 	minScore        float64
 	maxScore        float64
 	cutoff          float64
@@ -109,8 +111,9 @@ func (dq *decisionQueues) Apply(decisions []SignalDecision, budget BudgetModel,
 			qd.SNRDb = decisions[i].Candidate.SNRDb
 			qd.Hint = decisions[i].Candidate.Hint
 			qd.Class = decisions[i].Class
-			qd.WindowTag = windowTagForDecision(decisions[i])
-			qd.WindowBias = decisions[i].MonitorBias
+			qd.WindowTag = windowTagForDecision(decisions[i], "record")
+			qd.WindowZone = windowZoneForDecision(decisions[i], "record")
+			qd.WindowBias = decisions[i].MonitorBias + decisions[i].RecordBias
 			qd.LastSeen = now
 			recSeen[id] = true
 		}
@@ -123,8 +126,9 @@ func (dq *decisionQueues) Apply(decisions []SignalDecision, budget BudgetModel,
 			qd.SNRDb = decisions[i].Candidate.SNRDb
 			qd.Hint = decisions[i].Candidate.Hint
 			qd.Class = decisions[i].Class
-			qd.WindowTag = windowTagForDecision(decisions[i])
-			qd.WindowBias = decisions[i].MonitorBias
+			qd.WindowTag = windowTagForDecision(decisions[i], "decode")
+			qd.WindowZone = windowZoneForDecision(decisions[i], "decode")
+			qd.WindowBias = decisions[i].MonitorBias + decisions[i].DecodeBias
 			qd.LastSeen = now
 			decSeen[id] = true
 		}
@@ -238,6 +242,7 @@ func selectQueued(queueName string, queue map[int64]*queuedDecision, hold map[in
 		familyRanks:     map[int64]int{},
 		tierFloors:      map[int64]string{},
 		windowTags:      map[int64]string{},
+		windowZones:     map[int64]string{},
 	}
 	if len(queue) == 0 {
 		return selection
@@ -268,6 +273,9 @@ func selectQueued(queueName string, queue map[int64]*queuedDecision, hold map[in
 		if qd.WindowTag != "" {
 			selection.windowTags[id] = qd.WindowTag
 		}
+		if qd.WindowZone != "" {
+			selection.windowZones[id] = qd.WindowZone
+		}
 		score := qd.SNRDb + boost + policyBoost + qd.WindowBias
 		selection.scores[id] = score
 		if len(scoredList) == 0 || score < selection.minScore {
@@ -412,12 +420,14 @@ func buildQueueAdmission(queueName string, id int64, selection queueSelection, p
 		return nil
 	}
 	windowTag := selection.windowTags[id]
+	windowZone := selection.windowZones[id]
 	admission := &PriorityAdmission{
 		Basis:  queueName,
 		Score:  score,
 		Cutoff: selection.cutoff,
 		Tier:   selection.tiers[id],
 	}
+	zoneTag := windowZoneTag(windowZone)
 	admission.TierFloor = selection.tierFloors[id]
 	admission.Family = selection.families[id]
 	admission.FamilyRank = familyRankForOutput(selection.familyRanks[id])
@@ -428,6 +438,9 @@ func buildQueueAdmission(queueName string, id int64, selection queueSelection, p
 			if windowTag != "" {
 				extras = append(extras, windowTag)
 			}
+			if zoneTag != "" {
+				extras = append(extras, zoneTag)
+			}
 			if _, ok := selection.protected[id]; ok {
 				extras = append(extras, ReasonTagHoldProtected)
 			}
@@ -438,6 +451,9 @@ func buildQueueAdmission(queueName string, id int64, selection queueSelection, p
 			if windowTag != "" {
 				extras = append(extras, windowTag)
 			}
+			if zoneTag != "" {
+				extras = append(extras, zoneTag)
+			}
 			if _, ok := selection.opportunistic[id]; ok {
 				extras = append(extras, "pressure:hold", ReasonTagDisplaceOpportunist, ReasonTagDisplaceTier, ReasonTagHoldDisplaced)
 			}
@@ -451,6 +467,9 @@ func buildQueueAdmission(queueName string, id int64, selection queueSelection, p
 		if windowTag != "" {
 			extras = append(extras, windowTag)
 		}
+		if zoneTag != "" {
+			extras = append(extras, zoneTag)
+		}
 		admission.Reason = admissionReason("queue:"+queueName+":displace", policy, holdPolicy, extras...)
 		return admission
 	}
@@ -460,6 +479,9 @@ func buildQueueAdmission(queueName string, id int64, selection queueSelection, p
 		if windowTag != "" {
 			extras = append(extras, windowTag)
 		}
+		if zoneTag != "" {
+			extras = append(extras, zoneTag)
+		}
 		admission.Reason = admissionReason("queue:"+queueName+":displace", policy, holdPolicy, extras...)
 		return admission
 	}
@@ -468,6 +490,9 @@ func buildQueueAdmission(queueName string, id int64, selection queueSelection, p
 	if windowTag != "" {
 		extras = append(extras, windowTag)
 	}
+	if zoneTag != "" {
+		extras = append(extras, zoneTag)
+	}
 	if _, ok := selection.expired[id]; ok {
 		extras = append(extras, ReasonTagHoldExpired)
 	}
@@ -475,13 +500,14 @@ func buildQueueAdmission(queueName string, id int64, selection queueSelection, p
 	return admission
 }
 
-func windowTagForDecision(decision SignalDecision) string {
-	if decision.MonitorDetail == nil {
+func windowTagForDecision(decision SignalDecision, action string) string {
+	match := windowMatchForDecision(decision, action)
+	if match == nil {
 		return ""
 	}
-	label := strings.TrimSpace(decision.MonitorDetail.Label)
+	label := strings.TrimSpace(match.Label)
 	if label == "" {
-		label = "index-" + strconv.Itoa(decision.MonitorDetail.Index)
+		label = "index-" + strconv.Itoa(match.Index)
 	}
 	label = slugToken(label)
 	if label == "" {
@@ -490,6 +516,36 @@ func windowTagForDecision(decision SignalDecision) string {
 	return "window:" + label
 }
 
+func windowZoneForDecision(decision SignalDecision, action string) string {
+	match := windowMatchForDecision(decision, action)
+	if match == nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return match.Zone
+}
+
+func windowMatchForDecision(decision SignalDecision, action string) *MonitorWindowMatch {
+	switch strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(action)) {
+	case "record":
+		if decision.RecordWindow != nil {
+			return decision.RecordWindow
+		}
+	case "decode":
+		if decision.DecodeWindow != nil {
+			return decision.DecodeWindow
+		}
+	}
+	return decision.MonitorDetail
+}
+
+func windowZoneTag(zone string) string {
+	zone = slugToken(zone)
+	if zone == "" {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return "window-zone:" + zone
+}
+
 func oldestAge(queue map[int64]*queuedDecision, now time.Time) float64 {
 	oldest := 0.0
 	first := true

internal/pipeline/decision_queue_test.go

@@ -101,6 +101,46 @@ func TestDecisionQueueMonitorWindowBiasSelectsPreferred(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestDecisionQueueWindowZoneBiasSelectsPerAction(t *testing.T) {
+	arbiter := NewArbiter()
+	policy := Policy{
+		DecisionHoldMs:    250,
+		AutoRecordClasses: []string{"test"},
+		AutoDecodeClasses: []string{"test"},
+		MonitorWindows: finalizeMonitorWindows([]MonitorWindow{
+			{Label: "record-zone", StartHz: 100, EndHz: 200, SpanHz: 100, Zone: "record", AutoRecord: true, AutoDecode: true},
+			{Label: "decode-zone", StartHz: 300, EndHz: 400, SpanHz: 100, Zone: "decode", AutoRecord: true, AutoDecode: true},
+		}),
+	}
+	budget := BudgetModel{Record: BudgetQueue{Max: 1}, Decode: BudgetQueue{Max: 1}}
+	now := time.Now()
+
+	decisions := []SignalDecision{
+		DecideSignalAction(policy, Candidate{ID: 1, CenterHz: 150, SNRDb: 10, Hint: "test"}, nil),
+		DecideSignalAction(policy, Candidate{ID: 2, CenterHz: 350, SNRDb: 10, Hint: "test"}, nil),
+	}
+	arbiter.ApplyDecisions(decisions, budget, now, policy)
+
+	if !decisions[0].ShouldRecord {
+		t.Fatalf("expected record-zone candidate to be selected for record")
+	}
+	if decisions[1].ShouldRecord {
+		t.Fatalf("expected decode-zone candidate to be deferred for record")
+	}
+	if !decisions[1].ShouldAutoDecode {
+		t.Fatalf("expected decode-zone candidate to be selected for decode")
+	}
+	if decisions[0].ShouldAutoDecode {
+		t.Fatalf("expected record-zone candidate to be deferred for decode")
+	}
+	if decisions[0].RecordAdmission == nil || !strings.Contains(decisions[0].RecordAdmission.Reason, "window-zone:record") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected record admission to include window-zone tag, got %+v", decisions[0].RecordAdmission)
+	}
+	if decisions[1].DecodeAdmission == nil || !strings.Contains(decisions[1].DecodeAdmission.Reason, "window-zone:decode") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected decode admission to include window-zone tag, got %+v", decisions[1].DecodeAdmission)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestDecisionQueueHoldKeepsSelection(t *testing.T) {
 	arbiter := NewArbiter()
 	policy := Policy{DecisionHoldMs: 500}

internal/pipeline/decisions.go

@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ type SignalDecision struct {
 	ShouldAutoDecode bool                `json:"should_auto_decode"`
 	Reason           string              `json:"reason,omitempty"`
 	MonitorBias      float64             `json:"monitor_bias,omitempty"`
+	RecordBias       float64             `json:"record_bias,omitempty"`
+	DecodeBias       float64             `json:"decode_bias,omitempty"`
 	MonitorDetail    *MonitorWindowMatch `json:"monitor_detail,omitempty"`
 	RecordWindow     *MonitorWindowMatch `json:"record_window,omitempty"`
 	DecodeWindow     *MonitorWindowMatch `json:"decode_window,omitempty"`
@@ -50,19 +52,29 @@ func DecideSignalAction(policy Policy, candidate Candidate, cls *classifier.Clas
 		}
 	}
 	recordMatch := bestMonitorActionMatch(candidate.MonitorMatches, true, false)
-	if !decision.ShouldRecord && recordMatch != nil {
-		decision.ShouldRecord = true
-		decision.RecordWindow = recordMatch
-		if decision.Reason == "" {
-			decision.Reason = DecisionReasonRecordWindow
+	if recordMatch != nil {
+		decision.RecordBias = recordMatch.RecordBias
+		if decision.RecordWindow == nil {
+			decision.RecordWindow = recordMatch
+		}
+		if !decision.ShouldRecord {
+			decision.ShouldRecord = true
+			if decision.Reason == "" {
+				decision.Reason = DecisionReasonRecordWindow
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	decodeMatch := bestMonitorActionMatch(candidate.MonitorMatches, false, true)
-	if !decision.ShouldAutoDecode && decodeMatch != nil {
-		decision.ShouldAutoDecode = true
-		decision.DecodeWindow = decodeMatch
-		if decision.Reason == "" {
-			decision.Reason = DecisionReasonDecodeWindow
+	if decodeMatch != nil {
+		decision.DecodeBias = decodeMatch.DecodeBias
+		if decision.DecodeWindow == nil {
+			decision.DecodeWindow = decodeMatch
+		}
+		if !decision.ShouldAutoDecode {
+			decision.ShouldAutoDecode = true
+			if decision.Reason == "" {
+				decision.Reason = DecisionReasonDecodeWindow
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	if decision.Reason == "" && candidate.Hint != "" {

internal/pipeline/monitor_rules.go

@@ -2,11 +2,13 @@ package pipeline
 
 import (
 	"math"
+	"strings"
 
 	"sdr-wideband-suite/internal/config"
 )
 
 const maxMonitorWindowBias = 0.2
+const maxMonitorWindowZoneBias = 0.15
 
 func NormalizeMonitorWindows(goals config.PipelineGoalConfig, centerHz float64) []MonitorWindow {
 	if len(goals.MonitorWindows) > 0 {
@@ -61,6 +63,7 @@ func finalizeMonitorWindows(windows []MonitorWindow) []MonitorWindow {
 	}
 	for i := range windows {
 		windows[i].Index = i
+		windows[i].Zone = normalizeMonitorZone(windows[i].Zone)
 		priority := normalizeMonitorPriority(windows[i].Priority)
 		windows[i].Priority = priority
 		spanBias := 0.0
@@ -78,6 +81,9 @@ func finalizeMonitorWindows(windows []MonitorWindow) []MonitorWindow {
 			totalBias = -maxMonitorWindowBias
 		}
 		windows[i].PriorityBias = totalBias
+		recordBias, decodeBias := monitorWindowZoneBias(windows[i].Zone)
+		windows[i].RecordBias = recordBias
+		windows[i].DecodeBias = decodeBias
 	}
 	return windows
 }
@@ -102,10 +108,12 @@ func MonitorWindowBounds(windows []MonitorWindow) (float64, float64, bool) {
 }
 
 func normalizeGoalWindow(raw config.MonitorWindow, fallbackCenter float64) (MonitorWindow, bool) {
+	zone := normalizeMonitorZone(raw.Zone)
 	if raw.StartHz > 0 && raw.EndHz > raw.StartHz {
 		span := raw.EndHz - raw.StartHz
 		return MonitorWindow{
 			Label:      raw.Label,
+			Zone:       zone,
 			StartHz:    raw.StartHz,
 			EndHz:      raw.EndHz,
 			CenterHz:   (raw.StartHz + raw.EndHz) / 2,
@@ -128,6 +136,7 @@ func normalizeGoalWindow(raw config.MonitorWindow, fallbackCenter float64) (Moni
 		}
 		return MonitorWindow{
 			Label:      raw.Label,
+			Zone:       zone,
 			StartHz:    center - half,
 			EndHz:      center + half,
 			CenterHz:   center,
@@ -154,6 +163,39 @@ func normalizeMonitorPriority(priority float64) float64 {
 	return priority
 }
 
+func normalizeMonitorZone(raw string) string {
+	zone := strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(raw))
+	switch zone {
+	case "", "neutral", "monitor", "default":
+		return ""
+	case "focus", "priority", "hot":
+		return "focus"
+	case "record", "recording", "record-only":
+		return "record"
+	case "decode", "decoding", "decode-only":
+		return "decode"
+	case "background", "bg", "defer":
+		return "background"
+	default:
+		return ""
+	}
+}
+
+func monitorWindowZoneBias(zone string) (float64, float64) {
+	switch normalizeMonitorZone(zone) {
+	case "focus":
+		return maxMonitorWindowZoneBias, maxMonitorWindowZoneBias
+	case "record":
+		return maxMonitorWindowZoneBias, 0
+	case "decode":
+		return 0, maxMonitorWindowZoneBias
+	case "background":
+		return -maxMonitorWindowZoneBias, -maxMonitorWindowZoneBias
+	default:
+		return 0, 0
+	}
+}
+
 func monitorBounds(policy Policy) (float64, float64, bool) {
 	if len(policy.MonitorWindows) > 0 {
 		return MonitorWindowBounds(policy.MonitorWindows)
@@ -263,9 +305,12 @@ func MonitorWindowMatchesForCandidate(windows []MonitorWindow, candidate Candida
 		}
 		distance := math.Abs(candidate.CenterHz - center)
 		bias := win.PriorityBias * coverage
+		recordBias := win.RecordBias * coverage
+		decodeBias := win.DecodeBias * coverage
 		matches = append(matches, MonitorWindowMatch{
 			Index:      win.Index,
 			Label:      win.Label,
+			Zone:       win.Zone,
 			Source:     win.Source,
 			StartHz:    win.StartHz,
 			EndHz:      win.EndHz,
@@ -275,6 +320,8 @@ func MonitorWindowMatchesForCandidate(windows []MonitorWindow, candidate Candida
 			Coverage:   coverage,
 			DistanceHz: distance,
 			Bias:       bias,
+			RecordBias: recordBias,
+			DecodeBias: decodeBias,
 			AutoRecord: win.AutoRecord,
 			AutoDecode: win.AutoDecode,
 		})

internal/pipeline/monitor_rules_test.go

@@ -119,3 +119,42 @@ func TestMonitorWindowPriorityBiasUsesPriority(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("expected high priority bias > low priority bias, got %.3f vs %.3f", high.PriorityBias, low.PriorityBias)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestMonitorWindowZoneBiases(t *testing.T) {
+	goals := config.PipelineGoalConfig{
+		MonitorWindows: []config.MonitorWindow{
+			{Label: "record", StartHz: 100, EndHz: 200, Zone: "record"},
+			{Label: "decode", StartHz: 300, EndHz: 400, Zone: "decode"},
+		},
+	}
+	policy := Policy{MonitorWindows: NormalizeMonitorWindows(goals, 0)}
+	if len(policy.MonitorWindows) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 2 windows, got %d", len(policy.MonitorWindows))
+	}
+	var recordWin, decodeWin *MonitorWindow
+	for i := range policy.MonitorWindows {
+		win := &policy.MonitorWindows[i]
+		switch win.Label {
+		case "record":
+			recordWin = win
+		case "decode":
+			decodeWin = win
+		}
+	}
+	if recordWin == nil || decodeWin == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected both window entries")
+	}
+	if recordWin.RecordBias <= 0 || recordWin.DecodeBias != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected record window biases: %+v", recordWin)
+	}
+	if decodeWin.DecodeBias <= 0 || decodeWin.RecordBias != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected decode window biases: %+v", decodeWin)
+	}
+	matches := MonitorWindowMatches(policy, Candidate{CenterHz: 150, BandwidthHz: 0})
+	if len(matches) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 1 match, got %d", len(matches))
+	}
+	if matches[0].RecordBias <= 0 || matches[0].DecodeBias != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected match biases: %+v", matches[0])
+	}
+}

internal/pipeline/scheduler.go

@@ -415,6 +415,7 @@ func buildMonitorWindowStats(windows []MonitorWindow) []MonitorWindowStats {
 		stats = append(stats, MonitorWindowStats{
 			Index:        win.Index,
 			Label:        win.Label,
+			Zone:         win.Zone,
 			Source:       win.Source,
 			StartHz:      win.StartHz,
 			EndHz:        win.EndHz,
@@ -422,6 +423,8 @@ func buildMonitorWindowStats(windows []MonitorWindow) []MonitorWindowStats {
 			SpanHz:       win.SpanHz,
 			Priority:     win.Priority,
 			PriorityBias: win.PriorityBias,
+			RecordBias:   win.RecordBias,
+			DecodeBias:   win.DecodeBias,
 			AutoRecord:   win.AutoRecord,
 			AutoDecode:   win.AutoDecode,
 		})

internal/pipeline/types.go

@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ type LevelEvidence struct {
 type MonitorWindow struct {
 	Index        int     `json:"index,omitempty"`
 	Label        string  `json:"label,omitempty"`
+	Zone         string  `json:"zone,omitempty"`
 	StartHz      float64 `json:"start_hz,omitempty"`
 	EndHz        float64 `json:"end_hz,omitempty"`
 	CenterHz     float64 `json:"center_hz,omitempty"`
@@ -41,6 +42,8 @@ type MonitorWindow struct {
 	Source       string  `json:"source,omitempty"`
 	Priority     float64 `json:"priority,omitempty"`
 	PriorityBias float64 `json:"priority_bias,omitempty"`
+	RecordBias   float64 `json:"record_bias,omitempty"`
+	DecodeBias   float64 `json:"decode_bias,omitempty"`
 	AutoRecord   bool    `json:"auto_record,omitempty"`
 	AutoDecode   bool    `json:"auto_decode,omitempty"`
 }
@@ -49,6 +52,7 @@ type MonitorWindow struct {
 type MonitorWindowMatch struct {
 	Index      int     `json:"index"`
 	Label      string  `json:"label,omitempty"`
+	Zone       string  `json:"zone,omitempty"`
 	Source     string  `json:"source,omitempty"`
 	StartHz    float64 `json:"start_hz,omitempty"`
 	EndHz      float64 `json:"end_hz,omitempty"`
@@ -58,6 +62,8 @@ type MonitorWindowMatch struct {
 	Coverage   float64 `json:"coverage,omitempty"`
 	DistanceHz float64 `json:"distance_hz,omitempty"`
 	Bias       float64 `json:"bias,omitempty"`
+	RecordBias float64 `json:"record_bias,omitempty"`
+	DecodeBias float64 `json:"decode_bias,omitempty"`
 	AutoRecord bool    `json:"auto_record,omitempty"`
 	AutoDecode bool    `json:"auto_decode,omitempty"`
 }
@@ -66,6 +72,7 @@ type MonitorWindowMatch struct {
 type MonitorWindowStats struct {
 	Index        int     `json:"index"`
 	Label        string  `json:"label,omitempty"`
+	Zone         string  `json:"zone,omitempty"`
 	Source       string  `json:"source,omitempty"`
 	StartHz      float64 `json:"start_hz,omitempty"`
 	EndHz        float64 `json:"end_hz,omitempty"`
@@ -73,6 +80,8 @@ type MonitorWindowStats struct {
 	SpanHz       float64 `json:"span_hz,omitempty"`
 	Priority     float64 `json:"priority,omitempty"`
 	PriorityBias float64 `json:"priority_bias,omitempty"`
+	RecordBias   float64 `json:"record_bias,omitempty"`
+	DecodeBias   float64 `json:"decode_bias,omitempty"`
 	AutoRecord   bool    `json:"auto_record,omitempty"`
 	AutoDecode   bool    `json:"auto_decode,omitempty"`
 	Candidates   int     `json:"candidates,omitempty"`

internal/runtime/runtime.go

@@ -508,6 +508,9 @@ func (m *Manager) ApplyConfig(update ConfigUpdate) (config.Config, error) {
 
 func validateMonitorWindows(windows []config.MonitorWindow) error {
 	for i, w := range windows {
+		if !isValidMonitorZone(w.Zone) {
+			return fmt.Errorf("monitor_windows[%d] zone is invalid", i)
+		}
 		if math.IsNaN(w.Priority) || math.IsInf(w.Priority, 0) || w.Priority < -1 || w.Priority > 1 {
 			return fmt.Errorf("monitor_windows[%d] priority must be between -1 and 1", i)
 		}
@@ -528,6 +531,22 @@ func validateMonitorWindows(windows []config.MonitorWindow) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func isValidMonitorZone(zone string) bool {
+	zone = strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(zone))
+	if zone == "" {
+		return true
+	}
+	switch zone {
+	case "neutral", "monitor", "default", "focus", "priority", "hot",
+		"record", "recording", "record-only",
+		"decode", "decoding", "decode-only",
+		"background", "bg", "defer":
+		return true
+	default:
+		return false
+	}
+}
+
 func (m *Manager) ApplySettings(update SettingsUpdate) (config.Config, error) {
 	m.mu.Lock()
 	defer m.mu.Unlock()