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FOG COMPUTING: A CATALYST FOR REAL-TIME INTERNET OF THINGS APPLICATIONS
Issue Vol. 1 No. 01 (2024): Volume 01 Issue 01 --- Section Articles
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Abstract
The Internet of Things (IoT) is undergoing exponential growth, with billions of devices generating unprecedented volumes of data [1, 2]. While cloud computing has traditionally provided the backbone for processing this data, its inherent latency and bandwidth limitations pose significant challenges for the growing class of real-time IoT applications. This article provides an in-depth examination of the critical role of fog computing as an architectural solution to these challenges. Fog computing, a decentralized paradigm that extends cloud services to the edge of the network, provides a vital intermediate layer for computation, storage, and networking [3, 6]. By processing time-sensitive data closer to its source, fog computing significantly reduces latency, conserves network bandwidth, and enhances the overall performance, security, and reliability of IoT systems.
This comprehensive review follows the IMRaD structure to synthesize and expand upon findings from current literature and technical analyses. It delves into the granular details of the hierarchical fog architecture, from the 'Thing' layer to the 'Fog' and 'Cloud' layers, exploring the specific roles and responsibilities at each level. A significant portion of this paper is dedicated to the anatomy of fog nodes, detailing their hardware requirements, software stacks, and the critical middleware platforms that enable their function.
Furthermore, the paper discusses the symbiotic relationship between fog computing and enabling technologies like 5G, as well as its pivotal role in actualizing data-intensive frameworks such as Industry 4.0 and the emerging Industry 5.0 [4, 8]. An extensive analysis of real-world use cases—from smart manufacturing and autonomous vehicles to connected healthcare and smart grids—illustrates the practical impact of the fog paradigm. The article also addresses the persistent and complex challenges in resource management, interoperability, programming models, data aggregation, and security within heterogeneous fog environments [7, 13, 16]. Finally, we introduce a discussion on performance evaluation methodologies and simulation tools critical for modeling and validating fog architectures. Ultimately, this paper concludes that fog computing is not merely an alternative but a necessary and fundamental catalyst for unlocking the full potential of real-time IoT applications, paving the way for a more responsive, intelligent, and interconnected world.
Keywords
References
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