Enabling Collaborative Edge Computing for Software Defined Vehicular Networks

TLDR

Edge computing can address mobile vehicular network challenges by shifting storage and computation to network edges, yet efficiently leveraging heterogeneous edge architectures and deploying large‑scale IoV systems remains difficult. The study proposes the CVEC framework to enable collaborations among edge computing anchors in vehicular networks and outlines future research challenges. CVEC achieves scalable vehicular services by coordinating horizontal and vertical collaborations among edge anchors, leveraging a defined architecture, principles, and technical enablers.

Abstract

Edge computing has great potential to address the challenges in mobile vehicular networks by transferring partial storage and computing functions to network edges. However, it is still a challenge to efficiently utilize heterogeneous edge computing architectures and deploy large-scale IoV systems. In this article, we focus on the collaborations among different edge computing anchors and propose a novel collaborative vehicular edge computing framework, called CVEC. Specifically, CVEC can support more scalable vehicular services and applications by both horizontal and vertical collaborations. Furthermore, we discuss the architecture, principle, mechanisms, special cases, and potential technical enablers to support the CVEC. Finally, we present some research challenges as well as future research directions.