Edge computing: current trends, research challenges and future directions

Computing (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

The edge computing (EC) paradigm brings computation and storage to the edge of the network where data is both consumed and produced. This variation is necessary to cope with the increasing amount of network-connected devices and data transmitted, that the launch of the new 5G networks will expand. The aim is to avoid the high latency and traffic bottlenecks associated with the use of Cloud Computing in networks where several devices both access and generate high volumes of data. EC also improves network support for mobility, security, and privacy. This paper provides a discussion around EC and summarized the definition and fundamental properties of the EC architectures proposed in the literature (Multi-access Edge Computing, Fog Computing, Cloudlet Computing, and Mobile Cloud Computing). Subsequently, this paper examines significant use cases for each EC architecture and debates some promising future research directions.

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), through the Regional Operational Programme of Lisbon (POR LISBOA 2020) and the Competitiveness and Internationalization Operational Programme (COMPETE 2020) of the Portugal 2020 framework [Project 5G with Nr. 024539 (POCI-01-0247-FEDER-024539)]. We also acknowledge the support from the MobiWise project: from mobile sensing to mobility advising (P2020 SAICTPAC/0011/2015), co-financed by COMPETE 2020, Portugal 2020-POCI, European Regional Development Fund of European Union, and the Portuguese Foundation of Science and Technology.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Informatics Engineering, CISUC, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Gonçalo Carvalho, Bruno Cabral, Vasco Pereira & Jorge Bernardino

  2. Polytechnic of Coimbra, ISEC, Coimbra, Portugal

    Jorge Bernardino

Authors
  1. Gonçalo Carvalho
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  2. Bruno Cabral
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  3. Vasco Pereira
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  4. Jorge Bernardino
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Correspondence to Gonçalo Carvalho.

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Carvalho, G., Cabral, B., Pereira, V. et al. Edge computing: current trends, research challenges and future directions. Computing (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00607-020-00896-5

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Keywords

  • Edge computing
  • Fog computing
  • Cloudlet computing
  • Multi-access edge computing
  • Mobile cloud computing

Mathematics Subject Classification

  • 68-02