Futuristic Communication Systems Using Mobile Edge Computing

Abstract

Wireless communication networks and technologies have transformed each and every aspect of our lives. The computer-intensive applications and the Internet of Things (IoT) are the primary driving force behind the unprecedented and exponential growth of network traffic in recent times. It has also generated an enormous demand for computational requirements to meet the ever-growing and anticipated evolution of 5G networks. However, it is pertinent to highlight that the end-users, despite all this, continue to struggle with small storage-capacities and limited processing speed. To address this issue, Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) is the way forward, as it is the technology supporting the evolution of the 5G communication networks. Since it can host intensive computing applications, it creates efficient optimization of mobile resources. Before transmitting it to the cloud, it can also process extensive data and provide mobile users near proximity to cloud computing capabilities within the Radio Access Network (RAN). It offers context-aware services through the deployment of RAN knowledge. MEC, therefore, makes a wide range of applications where real-time response is appropriate, e.g. driverless cars, virtual reality, robotics and live media. Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), dense heterogeneous networks (HetNets), cloud radio access networks (C-RAN), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), IoT, wireless power transfer (WPT) and energy harvesting (EH) and machine learning (ML) are all main technologies for 5G. The MEC summary, including the fundamental characteristics, challenges and market factors, is presented in this chapter. In addition to the integration of MEC with the upcoming 5G and beyond technologies including NOMA, WPT EH, UAV, IoT and heterogeneous CRAN and ML, we also address the role of MEC in the 5G network architecture. In doing so, we address the state of the art research activities and describe the potential of MEC’s future course.