Fog Computing: Focusing on Mobile Users at the Edge (1502.01815v3)

Abstract: With smart devices, particular smartphones, becoming our everyday companions, the ubiquitous mobile Internet and computing applications pervade people daily lives. With the surge demand on high-quality mobile services at anywhere, how to address the ubiquitous user demand and accommodate the explosive growth of mobile traffics is the key issue of the next generation mobile networks. The Fog computing is a promising solution towards this goal. Fog computing extends cloud computing by providing virtualized resources and engaged location-based services to the edge of the mobile networks so as to better serve mobile traffics. Therefore, Fog computing is a lubricant of the combination of cloud computing and mobile applications. In this article, we outline the main features of Fog computing and describe its concept, architecture and design goals. Lastly, we discuss some of the future research issues from the networking perspective.

• The paper introduces fog computing as a solution to meet growing mobile traffic demands by extending cloud capabilities to the edge.
• It details a three-layer Mobile-Fog-Cloud hierarchy that delivers localized services through geo-distributed, lightweight fog servers.
• The study explores efficient design and synchronization methods, such as SDN integration, to reduce latency and enhance mobile service quality.

Fog Computing: Focusing on Mobile Users at the Edge

The paper "Fog Computing: Focusing on Mobile Users at the Edge" addresses a significant challenge in next-generation mobile networks: accommodating the explosive growth of mobile traffic and meeting the demand for high-quality services for ubiquitous mobile users. The authors propose Fog computing as a viable solution, extending the cloud to the network's edge to better serve mobile traffic with localized, virtualized resources.

Overview

The paper emphasizes two primary trends in modern networking: the dominance of cloud-based Internet services and the proliferation of mobile computing. These trends necessitate a seamless integration of cloud services with mobile devices, highlighting several challenges such as agility of services, real-time response, and overcoming long-thin connections between mobile devices and the cloud.

Fog computing introduces an intermediate layer—between mobile devices and the cloud—comprising geo-distributed, lightweight, cloud-like facilities known as Fog servers. These servers are strategically positioned close to mobile users to provide fast, localized services and short, high-rate connections. Fog computing offers several strong advantages, including enhanced service quality through improved data rates and decreased latency, alongside reduced bandwidth costs for users.

Key Concepts

• Architecture: The paper describes a three-layer Mobile-Fog-Cloud hierarchy, wherein Fog servers are deployed at various local premises such as parks, bus terminals, and shopping centers. These servers interact with mobile users, cloud, and other Fog servers to provide efficient, location-based services.
• Localized Services: Fog computing emphasizes delivering content and application services in close proximity to their consumers. This focus on location-awareness allows Fog servers to anticipate users' needs based on their geographical position and provide pre-defined, relevant services promptly.
• Exemplary Applications: Potential applications include localized services in shopping centers, parks, and even inter-state buses, where Fog servers can provide services like indoor navigation, content streaming, and environment monitoring.

Research and Comparison

The paper compares Fog computing with conventional cloud computing, highlighting differences such as the focus on localized services, the computing power available, and user proximity. The authors also discuss related paradigms such as CDN and ICN, illustrating how Fog computing encompasses broader services by providing on-site processing and intelligent service delivery.

Networking and Future Directions

From a networking perspective, the paper outlines several research avenues:

• Mobile-Fog Communication: Exploration of cross-layer design and user-aware wireless resource allocation can significantly enhance service quality.
• Fog-Cloud Communication: Employing SDN for efficient data management and synchronization between Fog servers and the cloud is vital for maintaining service efficacy.
• Inter-Fog Communication: Collaborative service provision and content delivery strategies between peer Fog servers are essential for optimized network performance.

Conclusion and Implications

The research elucidates how Fog computing addresses the limitations of centralized cloud systems by integrating localized compute and storage resources directly at the edge of the network. This approach can greatly enhance the agility and responsiveness of services, ensuring sustainable and efficient mobile networking.

For future developments, incorporating emerging technologies such as 5G, NFV, and SDN within the Fog computing framework promises further advancements in resource management and service delivery. As such, Fog computing not only stands as a powerful platform for meeting the diverse needs of mobile users but also opens a breadth of research opportunities in IoT and next-generation network management.