The hyper-connected era opened by edge computing

 

  Have you ever had the experience of not being able to book a concert for your favorite singer due to a rush of visitors online? Every time we go through a situation like this, we often blame the poor website. So, why does this situation occur? It is data overload and slowdown as data volumes are generated by an unprecedented rate and scale.

  However, recently, a new paradigm, ‘edge computing’, has emerged that can solve these problems with data distribution processing technology. This time, we will look into edge computing technologies and patents.

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What is ‘Edge Computing’

  It is a technology that processes massive amounts of data in real time through small, distributed servers rather than a centralized server. Unlike cloud computing, where a central server processes all data, it means that data is processed at the ‘edge’ of the network.

Edge Computing vs Cloud Computing

 To introduce edge computing, you must first understand the opposite concept, ‘cloud computing’. Cloud computing is a technology that processes large amounts of data in cloud data centers that are distributed over long distances. From the early 2000s, when it was first entered, most of the companies and institutions, both public and private, are using cloud computing. However, as the amount of data is produced faster and more rapidly than before, problems such as data leakage or slow transmission are occurring.

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  That's why edge computing is emerging as an alternative to this cloud computing. Edge Computing is immediately processed and processed at the point where data is generated through distributed servers or devices, so there is no problem with security or processing delay as the amount of data increases like cloud computing. Also, the data processing speed is faster, so it is much more comfortable than cloud computing.

Comparison of cloud computing and edge computing
< Source : Samsung Electronics Newsroom>

Number of patent applications for edge computing by country
< Source : Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) >

The Pinnacle of Edge Computing Technology - Autonomous Vehicles

  Autonomous cars are the pinnacle of edge computing technology. Autonomous cars recognize the external environment with various sensors installed in the car and a built-in CPU, and make various decisions while driving. Edge computing is the most important technology in this series of processes. Autonomous car exchanges real-time information with the data center of each automaker, as well as with terrain features on the road and other cars while driving.

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Korea's KT technology,

  As a telecommunications company, KT Corporations (Korean Telecommunications company) has developed an edge computing system using vehicle communication technology called ‘V2X (Vehicle to Everything)’. KT's edge computing system supports real-time communication with road infrastructure and other vehicles while driving to share traffic conditions. Through this, accidents or weather conditions such as heavy rain and fog can be reflected in real time to help drivers drive safely, or autonomous vehicles can reach their destination by taking a safe route on their own.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2022-0078067
"Edge computing system and method for managing vehicle that
drives within edge cloud area"

  The edge computing technology that adjusts the image recognition range according to the driving speed also draws attention. This technology developed by Cellplus Korea is also equipped with edge computing. Multiple image recognition AI edge computing technology with different angles of view recognizes distant objects during low-speed driving and close objects during high-speed driving. It supports stable driving of autonomous vehicles by accurately capturing objects such as people, animals, other vehicles, and traffic lights.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2497488
"Image recognition apparatus for adjusting recognition range
according to driving speed of autonomous vehicle"

Best solution for 5G

  Edge computing is also a key technology for 5G networks that aim for hyper-connectivity and ultra-high speed. Using the IoT and geographic data centers deployed in various places, it makes data services possible anywhere in a comfortable and fast manner.

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  Samsung Electronics started to develop technology to apply 5G communication system to IoT network. They have developed a technology that enables multiple access (MEC) using a device application.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2022-0092874
"The method of computing it is in the multiple-access and apparatus thereof
at the wireless telecommunications system"

  There is also a technology to operate unmanned drones using 5G and edge computing. Previously, there was a problem of buffering caused by streaming video taken by a drone through a drone station, but this technology can play the video in real time without interruption by installing a 5G module in the drone station and using edge computing to process the data.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2331974
"Fully-automated unmanned drone system and method for transceiving data by
using 5 generation and multi-access edge computing"

Can we lead the hyper-connected era?

  The edge computing introduced today is emerging as an alternative that can stably and comfortably use exploding data. The next-generation technologies that we have already heard about, such as connected cars and the IoT, would not have been possible without edge computing. Now, let's look forward to what other changes and developments the advancement of edge computing will bring in the hyper-connected era where everything is connected to data.