Incentive Design for Mist-Fog Interactions Using Cooperative Games

The rapid evolution of fog and mist computing has redefined the way resources are managed in Internet of Things (IoT) and edge computing environments. These paradigms demand efficient collaboration between layers to optimize resource usage, enhance performance, and meet the diverse requirements of dynamic and heterogeneous systems. This paper introduces a cutting-edge incentive design framework rooted in cooperative game theory, aimed at fostering seamless mist-fog interactions. By leveraging the Shapley value and core stability principles, the proposed model ensures fair resource allocation, maximizes system utility, and encourages sustained cooperation among nodes. Theoretical analysis and simulation results validate the robustness of the framework, showcasing its adaptability and effectiveness in diverse, real-world scenarios. This work lays a foundation for developing intelligent, scalable, and incentive-driven architectures for next-generation IoT and edge systems.