SAGE Open (Aug 2023)

Design of a Novel Edge-Centric Cloud Architecture for m-Learning Performance Effectiveness by Leveraging Distributed Computing Paradigms’ Potentials

  • Khalid Mohiuddin,
  • Huda Fatima,
  • Mohiuddin Ali Khan,
  • Mohammad Abdul Khaleel,
  • Zeenat Begum,
  • Sajid Ali Khan,
  • Omer Bin Hussain

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231190337
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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This article aims to design a novel edge-centric hierarchical cloud architecture to optimize mobile learning (m-learning) performance during learners executing computation-intensive learning applications. This research adopts the potential of distributed computing paradigms, that is, mobile edge, for improving the effectiveness of m-learning performance in higher education. Edge computing enables computing at the network’s edge and effectively avoids latencies while processing learners’ computational requests. The envisioned architecture was designed on the ETSI MEC ISG protocols and deployed on the university mobile cloud infrastructure. Additionally, a use case was designed, focusing the edge computing’s latency-avoiding ability, and executing it in a real-time environment involving sixteen students from an academic course. The execution results validated the architecture’s contribution, such as tasks executed in the local server, optimized learner privacy, reduced latencies, instant access, lowered bandwidth consumption, and continued tasks’ execution despite the failure of smart nodes. The result influences user acceptance and attracts designers to extend the architecture base focusing on machine learning algorithms (for learning analytics) and blockchain (to prevent malicious attacks) to improve the effectiveness of learning management system performance.