cloudlet

Cloudlet is a concept in edge computing referring to a small, resource-rich data center located at the edge of the Internet, near end users. Its purpose is to offload compute- and data-intensive tasks from mobile devices and IoT sensors to nearby infrastructure, reducing network latency and conserving mobile bandwidth. A cloudlet typically hosts virtualization platforms such as virtual machines or containers, along with storage and networking services, allowing applications to execute with greater speed and reliability than in the central cloud alone. Cloudlets are usually deployed within or adjacent to wireless access networks—at base stations, access points, or enterprise data rooms—and connect to broader cloud resources that host less latency-sensitive tasks and long-term storage.

Applications and use cases include augmented reality, virtual reality, real-time video analytics, immersive gaming, autonomous or assistive devices, and other interactive services requiring low latency and contextual awareness. Mobility support is a core concern; cloudlets can enable task offloading while preserving user context, with mechanisms for handoff and live state migration as users move between edge sites.

Key challenges involve resource management across distributed cloudlets, security and trust, data privacy, and interoperability among vendors and software stacks. Deployment economics, energy efficiency, and maintenance at scale also pose difficulties. Cloudlets are a specific implementation within the broader edge computing paradigm and are closely related to fog computing, which extends edge resources into a more hierarchical, distributed network; cloudlets focus on micro data centers close to users, while fog encompasses a wider layer of localized intelligence.