Reference architecture to be used as basis for fog computing, networking standards

The OpenFog Consortium announced that its OpenFog Reference Architecture will be the basis for a working group formed by the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) and will serve as a catalyst to propel the digital revolution occurring as a result of advanced Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, and embedded artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

By OpenFog Consortium October 26, 2017

The OpenFog Consortium announced that its OpenFog Reference Architecture will serve as the basis for a working group formed by the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) to accelerate the creation and adoption of industry standards for fog computing and networking. The future standards are intended to be a catalyst to propel the digital revolution occurring as a result of advanced Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, and embedded artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

Fog computing and networking is an advanced distributed architecture that brings computing, storage, control, and networking functions closer to the data-producing sources along the cloud-to-thing continuum. Applicable across industry sectors, fog computing effectively addresses issues related to security, cognition, agility, latency and efficiency (SCALE).

The inaugural meeting of the IEEE Standards Working Group on Fog Computing and Networking Architecture Framework is scheduled for November 2017, with its work expected to be complete by April 2018.

The OpenFog Reference Architecture is a technical framework designed to enable the data-intensive requirements of IoT, 5G and AI applications. It is a structural and functional prescription of an open, interoperable, horizontal system architecture for distributing computing, storage, control and networking functions closer to the users along a cloud-to-thing continuum. The framework encompasses various approaches to disperse information technology (IT), communication technology (CT) and operational technology (OT) services through an information messaging infrastructure as well as legacy and emerging multi-access networking technologies.

"The standards work produced by this new working group will be crucial in the continued growth of fog computing innovation and things-to-cloud systems," said Dr. Mehmet Ulema, director, standards development, IEEE Communications Society, and professor, Manhattan College, New York.

"The mandate for fog computing is growing stronger, driven by the recognition that traditional architectures can’t deliver on the operational challenges for today’s advanced digital applications," said Helder Antunes, chairman of the OpenFog Consortium and senior director, Cisco.

OpenFog Consortium

www.openfogconsortium.org 

– Edited from an OpenFog Consortium press release by CFE Media. See more Control Engineering IIoT and Industrie 4.0 stories.