Adaptive Scheduling for Fog Network Edge Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

In industrial IoT environments, existing network management technologies face challenges in ensuring real-time processing of data from edge devices, leading to communication drift and delays due to time synchronization issues in fog federation networks, which can result in deleterious effects such as equipment damage or loss of productivity.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an adaptive scheduling system within fog federation networks that synchronizes kernel and hypervisor scheduling using a global schedule, allowing for real-time adjustments based on feedback to minimize queuing delays and ensure deterministic processing of data packets, thereby preventing communication drift.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing network management technologies are used in fog federation networks, then network operations can be maintained, but communication drift and time synchronization issues occur leading to queuing delays

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime synchronizationVSAvoidqueuing delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system manager receives feedback from edge devices about their actual execution times and adjusts the schedule accordingly. This closed-loop approach allows the system to detect time deviations and correct communication drift by modifying future scheduling decisions based on observed performance data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The scheduling system transitions from a static, predetermined schedule to a dynamic, adaptive schedule that continuously adjusts based on real-time conditions. The system manager modifies time slots and scheduling parameters dynamically in response to feedback, allowing the network to accommodate varying processing times and prevent queuing delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If real-time adjustments to schedules are made, then communication drift can be prevented, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication drift preventionVSAvoidscheduling system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The scheduling system is segmented into distinct functional components: edge devices that execute tasks and generate feedback, a communication interface for feedback transmission, and a system manager that processes feedback and adjusts schedules. This segmentation allows each component to have specialized functionality, making the overall complex system more manageable and easier to implement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system manager acts as an intermediary between edge devices and the scheduling system. It receives feedback from edge devices, processes this information, and generates adjusted schedules without requiring direct complex interactions between all system components. This intermediary role simplifies the architecture by centralizing scheduling intelligence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10972579B2Adaptive scheduling for edge devices and networks

Publication Date: 2021.04.06 TTTECH COMPUTERTECHNIK AG

AI summary

Adaptive scheduling of compute functions in a fog network is described herein. An example method includes synchronizing kernel and hypervisor scheduling of applications used to control one or more edge devices using a global schedule, wherein the global schedule comprises timeslots for applications, and adapting the timeslots in real-time or near real-time based on application-based time related feedback that is indicative of time delays.