A Survey on Mobile Edge Computing: The Communication Perspective (1701.01090v4)

Abstract: Driven by the visions of Internet of Things and 5G communications, recent years have seen a paradigm shift in mobile computing, from the centralized Mobile Cloud Computing towards Mobile Edge Computing (MEC). The main feature of MEC is to push mobile computing, network control and storage to the network edges (e.g., base stations and access points) so as to enable computation-intensive and latency-critical applications at the resource-limited mobile devices. MEC promises dramatic reduction in latency and mobile energy consumption, tackling the key challenges for materializing 5G vision. The promised gains of MEC have motivated extensive efforts in both academia and industry on developing the technology. A main thrust of MEC research is to seamlessly merge the two disciplines of wireless communications and mobile computing, resulting in a wide-range of new designs ranging from techniques for computation offloading to network architectures. This paper provides a comprehensive survey of the state-of-the-art MEC research with a focus on joint radio-and-computational resource management. We also present a research outlook consisting of a set of promising directions for MEC research, including MEC system deployment, cache-enabled MEC, mobility management for MEC, green MEC, as well as privacy-aware MEC. Advancements in these directions will facilitate the transformation of MEC from theory to practice. Finally, we introduce recent standardization efforts on MEC as well as some typical MEC application scenarios.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Mobile Edge Computing from the Communication Perspective

The paradigm shift from conventional Mobile Cloud Computing (MCC) to Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) represents a significant evolution in the mobile computing landscape, propelled by the visionary goals of the Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G communications. This transition is primarily driven by the demand for low-latency and computation-intensive applications on resource-constrained mobile devices. The paper "A Survey on Mobile Edge Computing: The Communication Perspective" provides a detailed survey on the state-of-the-art research in MEC, highlighting joint radio-and-computational resource management, system deployment strategies, and various technical challenges and future research directions.

MEC integrates mobile computing, network control, and storage closer to the network's edge—such as at base stations and access points. This proximity significantly reduces latency and energy consumption for mobile devices while catering to the stringent requirements of applications envisioned in 5G systems. By decentralizing the cloud, MEC not only relieves the cellular core networks and data centers from congestion but also enhances the computation capabilities available to users at the network edges.

Key Contributions and Methodologies

The paper systematically classifies MEC research into various themes to provide a coherent understanding of its complex landscape.

1. Single-User and Multiuser MEC Systems: The paper provides a comprehensive synthesis of resource management strategies for both single-user and multiuser MEC systems. For single-user scenarios, strategies focus on optimizing offloading decisions and managing execution either locally or at the edge server based on task type (binary or partial offloading) and stochastic task models. The survey covers notable methodologies like dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) and advanced scheduling techniques to minimize energy consumption and response latency. In multiuser systems, emphasis is placed on joint radio-and-computational resource allocation, often modeled through centralized or distributed optimization frameworks.
2. Deployment Challenges: Selecting optimal deployment sites for edge servers, crafting multi-tier network architectures, and planning for server densities are emphasized as critical considerations. These challenges are compounded by the need to balance computational resources against infrastructural costs and site-specific demand variabilities.
3. Cache-Enabled MEC: One of the novel areas explored in this survey is the integration of caching mechanisms with edge computing. The concept of caching popular data and services directly at edge servers can dramatically reduce latency for frequently accessed content and computation results, thus improving user experience and server efficiency.
4. Mobility Management: The paper also addresses mobility-induced challenges such as handovers and dynamic connectivity. Research is directed towards developing robust mobility-aware offloading policies and utilizing D2D communications to ensure seamless computing experiences amid user movement.
5. Green MEC and Security: Sustainable computing frameworks and security paradigms form crucial components of the future of MEC. The use of renewable energy sources and strategies for robust security against physical and data threats are seen as promising avenues to explore for enhancing the overall resilience and sustainability of MEC systems.

Implications and Future Directions

The robust architecture and design methodologies discussed in this survey provide a foundational base for contemplating future developments in MEC. Core technological trends such as network slicing, enhanced mobility management, and the adoption of advanced beamforming for WPT (Wireless Power Transfer) hint at a transformative era for MEC as a cornerstone technology in 5G environments. Additionally, the comprehensive integration of caching with computation offloading and the exploration of machine learning strategies for predictive caching and prefetching underscore a progressive trend towards more intelligent and adaptive MEC frameworks.

The implications for research are vast, suggesting the potential for further innovation in algorithm design for joint resource optimization, advanced caching techniques, and the development of scalable models for heterogeneous networks. As MEC continues to evolve, the amalgamation of communication technologies, cutting-edge computational strategies, and sustainability practices will likely redefine the paradigms of modern mobile networking and service delivery.

In summary, this survey provides a deep dive into the state-of-the-art advancements in MEC, offering both a detailed landscape analysis for immediate applications and setting a research agenda to guide future developments in realizing the full potential of MEC.