Middleware for Fog and Edge Computing: Design Issues

This chapter discusses different aspects of design of middleware for fog and edge architecture (FEA). It presents state‐of‐the‐art middleware for fog and edge infrastructures and proposes architecture of middleware that supports distributed mobile applications with specific requirements of applications. The proposed middleware primarily focuses on application‐aware task scheduling and data acquisition. A varied class of mobile applications can utilize FEA middleware. The chapter summarizes the requirements for emerging applications. Fog and edge computing applications include the following: batch processing that needs large‐scale data acquisition and distributed processing; quick‐response application that needs a response in real time; and stream applications that require processing of a continuous data stream in real time. The chapter presents a case study that describes an example of a perpetrator tracking application that can be designed through middleware. It also highlights some of the newer areas of research that will improve the design of FEA in the future.