Research On Mobile Cloud Computing: Review, Trend, And Perspectives (1206.1118v1)

Abstract: Mobile Cloud Computing (MCC) which combines mobile computing and cloud computing, has become one of the industry buzz words and a major discussion thread in the IT world since 2009. As MCC is still at the early stage of development, it is necessary to grasp a thorough understanding of the technology in order to point out the direction of future research. With the latter aim, this paper presents a review on the background and principle of MCC, characteristics, recent research work, and future research trends. A brief account on the background of MCC: from mobile computing to cloud computing is presented and then followed with a discussion on characteristics and recent research work. It then analyses the features and infrastructure of mobile cloud computing. The rest of the paper analyses the challenges of mobile cloud computing, summary of some research projects related to this area, and points out promising future research directions.

• The paper presents a comprehensive review of mobile cloud computing, detailing its principles, challenges, and technological innovations.
• The paper analyzes virtualization and dynamic task migration as key methodologies to mitigate mobile device limitations and network inconsistencies.
• The paper outlines future research directions, emphasizing enhanced task division, security improvements, and integration with emerging technologies like AR, IoT, and 5G.

Overview of Mobile Cloud Computing: Review, Trends, and Perspectives

The paper "Research on Mobile Cloud Computing: Review, Trend and Perspectives" by Han Qi and Abdullah Gani presents a comprehensive examination of Mobile Cloud Computing (MCC), an interdisciplinary domain that combines mobile computing and cloud computing. MCC has garnered significant attention in the IT industry since 2009. This paper undertakes a critical review of MCC, detailing its foundational principles, technological characteristics, recent research developments, and identifies future research trajectories.

Background and Core Concepts

Mobile Cloud Computing is postulated as an extension and integration of both mobile computing and cloud computing. As a nascent technology introduced around 2009, MCC optimizes resource utilization by shifting the computational and storage demands from mobile devices to centralized cloud servers. This method alleviates the computational limitations of mobile devices, which traditionally suffer from constraints such as limited processing power, energy supply, and storage capacity, when compared to fixed computing platforms like PCs and servers.

Technical Challenges and Solutions

One of the critical challenges in MCC revolves around achieving seamless integration between mobile devices and cloud infrastructures. The fluctuating network conditions, frequent disconnections, and the disparity in communication capabilities between mobile nodes and cloud services complicate the implementation of efficient MCC solutions. To address these challenges, the paper explores virtualization and task migration techniques, which allow computational tasks to be dynamically shifted between mobile devices and the cloud depending on factors such as network conditions and device limitations.

Additionally, the paper discusses optimizing the division of application services and the transmission of data across wireless networks to enhance service quality. Techniques such as dynamic application partitioning and optimizing data delivery latency are emphasized as necessary strategies to improve performance in an MCC environment.

Future Research Directions

The authors identify several promising avenues for future research in MCC. One key area is the optimization of task division strategies, which is crucial for efficiently leveraging cloud resources while minimizing mobile device resource consumption. Another important area is enhancing the reliability and security of data transmission over wireless networks to mitigate issues such as signal interference and data breaches.

Moreover, the integration of MCC with emerging technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and Internet of Things (IoT) devices could broaden the application scope and bring innovative solutions to a wider range of problems. The paper suggests that ongoing advancements in wireless communication technologies (e.g., 5G) and battery management could further diminish the existing limitations of mobile devices, thereby expanding their operational capabilities within MCC frameworks.

Implications and Conclusion

Mobile Cloud Computing represents a significant shift in how computational resources are accessed and utilized across distributed environments. By alleviating the computational burdens from mobile devices and exploiting the extensive resources offered by cloud computing, MCC offers a promising solution to the growing demands of modern mobile applications. In practical terms, MCC can enhance user experiences by enabling more complex applications to run on constrained devices. The theoretical implications include pushing the boundaries of distributed computing models and potentially redefining the relationship between end-user devices and centralized cloud systems.

Overall, the paper provides a robust foundation for future inquiry into MCC, advocating for targeted research efforts to address its inherent challenges and capitalize on its potential benefits. Continued developments in this field may catalyze significant advancements in both mobile and cloud computing technologies, aiding in the realization of more seamless and efficient computing paradigms.