A synchronized offline cloudlet architecture

Abstract

This paper introduces an Industrial Cloudlet Network (ICN) architecture based on distributed smart services. The proposed architecture is expected to provide synchronization and lower latency between Cloud server and industrial End point devices connected to Cloudlets. The main goals are 1-to maintain efficient synchronized communications between Cloud and End point industrial devices, 2- to alleviate the problem of high latency with low bandwidth, 3- to permit to the end point to be connected to the Cloud even in offline mode status and 4- to allow connectivity to some old industrial equipment to Cloud server. In ICN, Cloudlet deploys limited internal resources such as memory and storage space but it embeds more computing capabilities and better communication processes than the industrial end point. In addition, Cloudlet's location is close to the industrial endpoint, which is not the case for the Cloud server. Thus, Cloudlet offers low latency and high bandwidth communication. In our case, the Cloudlet is used to recuperate crucial industrial parameters from the endpoint and to relay it to the Cloud server. In particular extreme cases, Cloudlet can made some local decisions in order to discard waiting processing time. In our work, we tested our solution with CPG Company (Company of Phosphates of Gafsa). Experimental results are discussed in the experimental section of this paper.