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MEO Mobile Edge Orchestrator

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Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) is a technology that enables computing resources and services to be deployed closer to end-users, thereby reducing the latency and improving the overall user experience. MEC is especially important for latency-sensitive applications such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and autonomous driving.

MEC requires a distributed computing infrastructure that includes computing resources and networking capabilities at the edge of the network. Mobile Edge Orchestrator (MEO) is a software component that provides management and orchestration services for MEC infrastructure. MEO is responsible for managing resources, applications, and services in the MEC environment. In this article, we will discuss the architecture and functions of MEO in detail.

MEC Architecture

MEC infrastructure is typically composed of two types of components: edge nodes and MEC platform. Edge nodes are physical or virtualized computing resources that are deployed at the edge of the network, such as base stations, access points, or routers. The MEC platform is a software layer that provides abstraction and orchestration services for the edge nodes.

The MEC architecture is designed to be flexible and scalable, so it can support a wide range of use cases and deployment scenarios. The architecture is based on the following principles:

  • Distributed computing: MEC infrastructure should be distributed to reduce the latency and improve the performance of applications.
  • Standardized interfaces: MEC platform should provide standardized interfaces to abstract the complexity of the underlying edge nodes.
  • Multi-vendor support: MEC platform should support edge nodes from different vendors, so it can be used in heterogeneous environments.
  • Programmability: MEC platform should be programmable, so it can be customized for specific use cases and applications.
  • Security: MEC infrastructure should be secure and provide isolation between different applications and tenants.

MEO Architecture

MEO is a software component that provides management and orchestration services for MEC infrastructure. MEO is responsible for managing the following resources:

  • Compute resources: MEO manages the computing resources, such as CPUs, memory, and storage, in the MEC environment. MEO allocates resources to different applications and ensures that the resources are utilized efficiently.
  • Networking resources: MEO manages the networking resources, such as switches, routers, and gateways, in the MEC environment. MEO ensures that the networking resources are configured properly and that the traffic is routed efficiently.
  • Application resources: MEO manages the application resources, such as containers, virtual machines, and software components, in the MEC environment. MEO deploys, monitors, and scales the applications according to the demand.
  • Service resources: MEO manages the service resources, such as APIs, microservices, and data sources, in the MEC environment. MEO provides a service catalog and ensures that the services are available and accessible.

MEO is designed to be scalable, so it can support large-scale MEC deployments. MEO architecture is based on the following components:

  • MEO Core: MEO Core is the central component of the MEO architecture. MEO Core provides the management and orchestration services for the MEC infrastructure. MEO Core is responsible for managing the resources, deploying the applications, and providing the services.
  • MEO Agents: MEO Agents are software components that are deployed on the edge nodes. MEO Agents provide the interface between the MEO Core and the edge nodes. MEO Agents are responsible for collecting the resource information from the edge nodes, reporting the status to the MEO Core, and executing the commands from the MEO Core.
  • MEO APIs: MEO APIs are the interfaces that are exposed by the MEO Core. MEO APIs provide the access to the MEO services, such as resource management, application deployment, and service catalog. MEO APIs are designed to be interoperable and standard-based, so they can be easily integrated with other components of the MEC infrastructure.
  • MEO Database: MEO Database is the storage component of the MEO architecture. MEO Database stores the metadata and configuration information of the MEC infrastructure. MEO Database is responsible for maintaining the consistency and integrity of the data.
  • MEO User Interface: MEO User Interface is the graphical interface of the MEO architecture. MEO User Interface provides the visualization and control of the MEC infrastructure. MEO User Interface is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, so it can be used by different types of users, such as operators, developers, and administrators.

Functions of MEO

MEO provides the following functions for MEC infrastructure:

  • Resource Management: MEO manages the computing, networking, application, and service resources in the MEC environment. MEO allocates resources to different applications and ensures that the resources are utilized efficiently.
  • Application Deployment: MEO deploys the applications to the edge nodes according to the demand. MEO ensures that the applications are deployed in a scalable and fault-tolerant manner. MEO also provides the lifecycle management of the applications, such as start, stop, and upgrade.
  • Service Catalog: MEO provides a service catalog that lists the available services in the MEC environment. The service catalog includes the description, metadata, and access information of the services. MEO ensures that the services are available and accessible to the users.
  • Monitoring and Analytics: MEO monitors the status and performance of the MEC infrastructure. MEO collects the telemetry data from the edge nodes and analyzes the data to detect anomalies and trends. MEO provides the visualization and reporting of the monitoring data, so the operators can take action accordingly.
  • Security and Isolation: MEO ensures that the MEC infrastructure is secure and provides isolation between different applications and tenants. MEO provides the authentication, authorization, and encryption services for the MEC infrastructure. MEO also enforces the policies and rules that govern the usage of the MEC infrastructure.

Use Cases of MEO

MEO can be used in various MEC use cases, such as:

  • Augmented Reality: MEO can be used to deploy the AR applications to the edge nodes, so the latency and bandwidth requirements can be met. MEO can also provide the location and context information to the AR applications, so they can provide more accurate and personalized experiences.
  • Smart City: MEO can be used to deploy the smart city applications to the edge nodes, so the data can be processed and analyzed locally. MEO can also provide the integration and interoperability services for the smart city applications, so they can work together seamlessly.
  • Industry 4.0: MEO can be used to deploy the Industry 4.0 applications to the edge nodes, so the real-time control and monitoring can be achieved. MEO can also provide the edge intelligence and analytics services for the Industry 4.0 applications, so they can optimize the production and efficiency.
  • Autonomous Driving: MEO can be used to deploy the autonomous driving applications to the edge nodes, so the reaction time and safety can be improved. MEO can also provide the sensor fusion and decision-making services for the autonomous driving applications, so they can navigate the environment accurately and safely.

Conclusion

Mobile Edge Orchestrator (MEO) is a software component that provides management and orchestration services for Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) infrastructure. MEO is responsible for managing resources, applications, and services in the MEC environment. MEO architecture is designed to be scalable, flexible, and secure, so it can support a wide range of use cases and deployment scenarios. MEO provides the functions of resource management, application deployment.