A multi-user tasks offloading scheme for integrated edge-fog-cloud computing environments

Abstract

This paper presents a multi-user, multi-class and multi-layer edge computing-based framework for effective task offloading and computation processes. Important system requirements that were not captured in the existing multi-layer solutions such as offloading, computations and deadline requirements were captured in the system modeling, while both wireless communications and task computation constraints were considered. We considered three layers system, where each device offloads its generated tasks in each time slot to any selected layer for computation. On its arrival at such a selected layer, the task is only accepted if the queue size is below the pre-defined threshold, otherwise, such a task is offloaded to the next layer. Tasks were classified into class 1 and class 2 tasks following tasks’ quality of service requirements. We adopted stochastic geometry, parallel computing and queueing theory techniques to model the performance of the considered integrated edge-fog-cloud computing environment and obtained analysis for various performance metrics of interest. The obtained analyses demonstrate the importance of multi-layer and multi-class edge computing systems towards improving the experience of both delay-sensitive and mission-critical applications in any task offloading environment.