Semi-Dynamic Computing Resource Allocation in MEC-enabled Radio Access Networks

Since low delay is required in most healthcare user cases, data computing are performed by mobile edge computing (MEC) deployed in Radio Access Networks (RANs). Therefore, MEC computing resource must be allocated among terminals properly. In existing researches, MEC computing resource is allocated dynamically or statically. However, dynamic schemes suffer from high complexity and static schemes will lead to poor service quality or low resource utilization. To achieve tradeoff between complexity and efficiency, this paper designs a semi-dynamic scheme for MEC computing resource allocation, called SD-CRA. As its main idea, MEC computing resource is firstly assigned to access point (AP) which is then shared by its users dynamically. And computing resource allocated to AP is updated periodically. However, updating period in SD-CRA lasts longer than that in dynamic schemes since AP's computing tasks, which equals sum of its users' computing tasks, varies much slower than user's. To design SD-CRA, we consider wireless transmitting adequately since computing tasks need be transmitted to MEC wirelessly. With this consideration, one minimal problem of MEC computing resource is formulated. To solve the formulated problem, research scenarios are first divided into two categories based on wireless channel capacity. In ideal scenario of unlimited wireless channel capacity, algebraic expression of MEC computing resource allocation is provided with its applicable condition. And in scenario of limited wireless channel capacity, two optimal problems are then designed considering the tradeoff between minimal MEC computing resource and maximal wireless throughput, which are solved by proposed algorithms. Performances of complexity and efficiency of proposed algorithms are expressed by simulation results.