Proximity-Aware IaaS for Edge Computing Environment

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Edge computing enables application services to leverage low-latency responses, e.g., for augmented reality. Infrastructure-as-a-service for edge computing (EC-IaaS) allows multiple application service providers (ASPs) to use a virtualized resource (i.e., virtual machines (VMs) and virtual networks) for various applications services on the common edge computing infrastructure. For ASPs, the proximity of the VMs to the end-user devices (i.e., the location of the host edge servers) is a significant factor in guaranteeing low-latency response times. The existing method allows ASPs to select the edge server locations so that the VMs satisfy the proximity requirement. However, the amount of information transmitted from the EC-IaaS provider to the ASP becomes large, because it has to include the latencies between all edge server locations and all wireless base stations. We propose a method that reduces the amount of information while ensuring that ASPs obtain VMs that satisfy the proximity requirement. An EC-IaaS provider suggests groups of wireless base stations that have VMs within a suitable proximity, which helps the ASPs to estimate the necessary number of VMs. Instead of the ASP, the EC-IaaS provider determines which edge servers should contain the VMs. We confirm that the proposed method reduces the transmitted information. The EC-IaaS provider also has a benefit that detail latency information is kept closed to ASPs and the power draw is sustained compared to the existing method.