The Role of Fog Device Density in IoT-Fog-Cloud Systems

Abstract

Fog computing has emerged as an essential technology for enabling real-time, low-latency responses in cloud-based applications within Internet of Things (IoT) systems. This study explored the impact of the number of fog devices (NFDs) on the performance of IoT-fog-cloud systems. Through comparative analysis, two scheduling algorithms—First Come First Serve (FCFS) and Priority—were evaluated across different scales of system deployment. The results indicated that the FCFS algorithm was optimal for systems with fewer NFDs, whereas the Priority algorithm proved advantageous in larger settings. These findings not only establish guidelines for selecting appropriate scheduling strategies based on the scale of fog device deployment but also provide strategic insights for businesses on the optimal distribution of computational resources. This research aids companies in deciding whether to centralize resources in fewer branches with more employees or to decentralize into more branches with fewer employees, thereby optimizing operational efficiency and responsiveness.