Integrating the device-to-device communication technology into edge computing: A case study

The increasing demand on internet traffic makes the network operator face a dilemma: How to improve users’ quality of experience (QoE) with limited spectrum resources? In this study, we try to alleviate operators’ pressure by exploiting the merits of edge computing and device-to-device (D2D) communication technology. Offloading data or task to the edge can reduce the access delay of users, and the D2D communication technology helps to employ the unlicensed spectrum to transmit data. Furthermore, the information exchange can be completed without the network infrastructure. Considering these facts, we build an edge computing platform, in which devices can automatically switch the transmission pattern based on the communication distance or the strength of signals. We test the transmission performance of two D2D links, Wi-Fi Direct and Bluetooth, and that of the cellular link, and use the flower identification as a case study to verify the effectiveness of the platform. The experimental results validate that with the assistance of D2D communication technology, the response time is greatly improved compared with using the cellular link.