FaaS Temporal SD-WAN for Edge Function Customization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Functions-as-a-Service (FaaS) environments in edge computing lack customization options, limiting application functionality and flexibility in serverless computing environments.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a FaaS environment that utilizes FaaS flavors, which are chains of related functions, allowing for dynamic creation and execution of serverless workflows across multiple edge platforms, with features like temporal Software-Defined Wide-Area Networks (SD-WANs) for improved performance, security, and data isolation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional FaaS environments are used in edge computing, then service-based access to application functions is provided, but application functionality customization is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the FaaS environment into multiple independent FaaS platforms, each capable of executing specific functions. This segmentation allows different platforms to be customized for different application needs while maintaining overall system manageability. Each FaaS platform can be independently configured and deployed, enabling flexible customization without increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic function chaining where functions can be dynamically selected, ordered, and configured based on application requirements. The system allows runtime modification of function chains, enabling flexible customization of application functionality without requiring complex pre-planning or static configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If functions are distributed across multiple edge platforms, then application functionality customization is improved, but latency may increase due to distributed execution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-configures FaaS platforms and function chains during deployment time, allowing the system to optimize execution paths in advance. This preliminary configuration enables the system to quickly execute pre-planned function chains across distributed platforms without incurring significant runtime overhead or latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary orchestration layer that manages function execution across distributed platforms. This intermediary coordinates between multiple FaaS platforms, optimizing data flow and execution timing to minimize latency while maintaining the benefits of distributed execution for customization.
3Ease of operation
If remotely managed FaaS services are used, then service-based access is provided, but data security and isolation may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data and execution environments into isolated containers within each FaaS platform. This segmentation ensures that remotely managed services maintain security boundaries, allowing easy service-based access while preserving data security and isolation through architectural design rather than complex management protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
Software and other electronic services are increasingly being executed in cloud computing environments. Edge computing environments may be used to bridge the gap between cloud computing environments and end-user software and electronic devices, and may implement Functions-as-a-Service (FaaS). FaaS may be used to create flavors of particular services, a chain of related functions that implements all or a portion of a FaaS edge workflow or workload. A FaaS Temporal Software-Defined Wide-Area Network (SD-WAN) may be used to receive a computing request and decompose the computing request into several FaaS flavors, enable dynamic creation of SD-WANs for each FaaS flavor, execute the FaaS flavors in their respective SD-WAN, return a result, and destroy the SD-WANs. The FaaS Temporal SD-WAN expands upon current edge systems by allowing low-latency creation of SD-WAN virtual networks bound to a set of function instances that are created to a execute a particular service request.