337  Edge, Fog, and Cloud Overview

337.1 Chapter Series Overview

This chapter series covers the Edge-Fog-Cloud computing continuum - a fundamental IoT architecture pattern that distributes processing across three tiers based on latency, bandwidth, privacy, and reliability requirements.

NoteThe Core Problem

Pure cloud architecture fails for many IoT applications:

  • Latency: 100-500ms round-trip is too slow for autonomous vehicles (<10ms) and industrial safety (<50ms)
  • Bandwidth: Uploading 1,000 cameras at 1080p costs >$50K/month
  • Reliability: Factory safety systems cannot depend on internet connectivity
  • Privacy: Healthcare and financial data may violate regulations if sent to external clouds

The Solution: Process data at the optimal layer - edge for millisecond decisions, fog for local aggregation, cloud for long-term analytics.

337.2 Chapter Series

This topic has been split into 5 focused chapters for easier learning:

337.2.1 1. Introduction

Difficulty: Beginner | Reading Time: ~10 minutes

  • What are Edge, Fog, and Cloud? (restaurant kitchen analogy)
  • The β€œ50-500-5000” latency rule for tier selection
  • Real-world examples: self-driving cars, smart factories, fitness trackers
  • For Kids: Sensor Squad Adventure
  • Historical context: How edge computing emerged

337.2.2 2. Interactive Tools

Difficulty: Intermediate | Reading Time: ~15 minutes

  • Compute Placement Calculator: Input your requirements, get recommended tier distribution
  • Compute Placement Game: 15 scenarios across 3 difficulty levels
  • Practice applying latency, bandwidth, privacy, and connectivity criteria

337.2.3 3. Architecture

Difficulty: Intermediate | Reading Time: ~12 minutes

  • MGC (eMbedded-Gateway-Cloud) terminology
  • Cisco’s Seven-Level IoT Reference Model
  • Protocol translation patterns (Zigbee to MQTT, Modbus to HTTP)
  • Edge, Fog, and Cloud layer details

337.2.4 4. Devices and Integration

Difficulty: Intermediate | Reading Time: ~10 minutes

  • MCU vs SBC device selection criteria
  • Three-tier data flow patterns
  • Gateway integration patterns
  • Case studies: Smart building, Industrial IoT

337.2.5 5. Advanced Topics

Difficulty: Advanced | Reading Time: ~15 minutes

  • Worked examples with complete solutions
  • Common misconceptions and pitfalls
  • Design decision frameworks
  • Best practices for production deployments

337.2.6 6. Summary

Difficulty: Intermediate | Reading Time: ~5 minutes

  • Visual reference gallery
  • Key takeaways
  • Common pitfalls to avoid
  • What’s next

337.3 Quick Reference: The 50-500-5000 Rule

Latency Requirement Processing Tier Example Applications
< 50ms Edge (mandatory) Collision avoidance, emergency stops, real-time control
50-500ms Fog (recommended) Video analytics, local ML inference, protocol translation
> 5000ms Cloud (viable) ML training, historical analytics, global dashboards

337.4 Learning Path

For Beginners: Start with Introduction and use the Interactive Tools to practice.

For Practitioners: Jump to Architecture and Devices and Integration for implementation details.

For Architects: Focus on Advanced Topics for worked examples and design patterns.

337.5 Prerequisites

Before starting this series, you should be familiar with:

  • Overview of IoT: Basic IoT concepts and definitions
  • Networking Basics: Understanding of IP networks and protocols