Integrating Satellites and Mobile Edge Computing for 6G Wide-Area Edge Intelligence: Minimal Structures and Systematic Thinking

TL;DR

This paper proposes minimal structural integration of satellite and mobile edge computing networks to enable wide-area edge intelligence for 6G, addressing key challenges with a systematic engineering approach and demonstrating benefits through a case study.

Contribution

It introduces three minimal integration structures for satellite-MEC networks and develops an on-demand orchestration framework with process-oriented optimization.

Findings

Enhanced network management hierarchy through on-demand orchestration

Improved network performance via process-oriented optimization

Potential for more intelligent, secure, and green integrated networks

Abstract

The sixth-generation (6G) network will shift its focus to supporting everything including various machine-type devices (MTDs) in an everyone-centric manner. To ubiquitously cover the MTDs working in rural and disastrous areas, satellite communications become indispensable, while mobile edge computing (MEC) also plays an increasingly crucial role. Their sophisticated integration enables wide-area edge intelligence which promises to facilitate globally-distributed customized services. In this article, we present typical use cases of integrated satellite-MEC networks and discuss the main challenges therein. Inspired by the protein structure and the systematic engineering methodology, we propose three minimal integrating structures, based on which a complex integrated satellite-MEC network can be treated as their extension and combination. We discuss the unique characteristics and key problems of each minimal structure. Accordingly, we establish an on-demand network orchestration framework to enrich the hierarchy of network management, which further leads to a process-oriented network optimization method. On that basis, a case study is utilized to showcase the benefits of on-demand network orchestration and process-oriented network optimization. Finally, we outline potential research issues to envision a more intelligent, more secure, and greener integrated network.