Latency optimization for D2D-enabled parallel mobile edge computing in cellular networks

Abstract

Edge offloading, including offloading to edge base stations (BS) via cellular links and to idle mobile users (MUs) via device-to-device (D2D) links, has played a vital role in achieving ultra-low latency characteristics in 5G wireless networks. This paper studies an offloading method of parallel communication and computation to minimize the delay in multi-user systems. Three different scenarios are explored, i.e., full offloading, partial offloading, and D2D-enabled partial offloading. In the full offloading scenario, we find a serving order for the MUs. Then, we jointly optimize the serving order and task segment in the partial offloading scenario. For the D2D-enabled partial offloading scenario, we decompose the problem into two subproblems and then find the sub-optimal solution based on the results of the two subproblems. Finally, the simulation results demonstrate that the offloading method of parallel communication and computing can significantly reduce the system delay, and the D2D-enabled partial offloading can further reduce the latency.