MACEdge: Real-Time Video Analytics Based on Multi-Access Collaborative Edge Computing

Video analysis typically requires a significant amount of computing resources and energy. Traditional cloud-based video analysis relies on concentrating computing resources in the cloud, which puts a tremendous load on network bandwidth and introduces poor user experience due to latency. Edge computing offers a solution by offloading a portion of the video analysis tasks to the edge, significantly reducing the pressure on bandwidth and latency. However, the fixed video configurations (resolution, frame rate, etc.) uploaded to the edge may not be optimal for specific situations. Moreover, using a low video configuration makes it difficult for edge video analysis systems to recognize environmental changes, while using a high video configuration poses challenges to latency and bandwidth. Therefore, in this paper, we propose the MACEdge-an edge video analysis framework by leveraging the multi-access capability of the edge gateway to enhance edge perception by accessing heterogeneous sensors. We offer an algorithm based on Q Learning for dynamic adaptive adjustment of sensor threshold and video configurations. In experiments using real-world data, our collaborative solution improved accuracy and reduced high bandwidth costs compared to other video configuration adjustment benchmarks.