Edge Server Application Capability Assessment for Offline Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Edge computing systems face challenges in determining whether an application can be successfully downloaded and run on an edge server, especially when the server is isolated from the network, and in managing applications that can continue or start operations in isolation.
Innovation Solution
The system provides additional information with each application download, indicating required capabilities of the edge server and connected devices, allowing the edge server to assess its own and connected devices' capabilities, and includes flags to determine if an application can start or continue running in isolation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the edge server is isolated from the network, then network bandwidth usage is reduced and security is improved, but the ability to download and run applications is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs capability assessment and application selection in advance while the edge server is connected to the network. Applications that can run in isolation are identified and prepared beforehand, so when network connectivity is lost, the edge server can immediately execute pre-selected applications without requiring real-time network access.
Solution Approach 2:
The edge server autonomously assesses its own capabilities and determines which applications it can run based on locally stored capability information. The system enables self-directed application selection and execution decisions without requiring continuous external control, allowing the server to independently operate in isolated mode.
2Reliability
If the system checks capability requirements for each application download, then application compatibility is ensured, but the complexity of the download process increases
Solution Approach 1:
Capability information is pre-assessed and stored in the system before actual application downloads occur. The capability assessment data, including hardware requirements, software dependencies, and resource constraints, is prepared in advance and made available for quick reference during the download process, eliminating the need for complex real-time capability verification.
3Loss of information
If the edge server maintains connectivity to the cloud computing system, then application updates and capability information can be received, but network bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and stores essential capability information locally at the edge server and in the cloud system before network disconnection occurs. By taking out the necessary capability data and application metadata from the network dependency, the system enables the edge server to operate independently without requiring continuous network connectivity for information retrieval.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
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AI summary
An edge computing system comprises an application store, an edge server and a cloud computing system comprising a backend server. The edge server is configured to receive an application from the application store with additional information defining capabilities of the edge server that are required for the application to run on the edge server and/or capabilities of devices connected to the edge server. The edge server determines whether the application can run, and indicates the result to the application store. The edge server keeps a record of applications that can start to run and/or continue to run, when the edge server is or becomes disconnected from the cloud computing system. The application store keeps records of successful application downloads, and of edge servers that indicated they could not run applications.