Edge server and method of operating an edge server

Abstract

Example edge serves and communication methods are described. One example edge server is arranged at an edge between a first local area network and a wide area network, wherein the edge server includes a communicator configured to allow communication between devices connected to the first local area network and devices connected to the wide area network. The communicator is further configured to store and process data provided by the first local area network using big data algorithms locally. The edge server further includes an interlinker configured to allow communication between the devices connected to the first local area network and devices connected to a second local area network supported by another edge server, wherein the another edge server is arranged at the edge between the second local area network and the wide area network.

1 . An edge server arranged at an edge between a first local area network and a wide area network, the edge server comprising:
 a communicator configured to communicate between the first local area network and the wide area network, wherein the communicator is further configured to process data provided by the first local area network;   an interlinker configured to communicate with another interlinker in another edge server, wherein the another edge server is arranged at an edge between a second local area network and the wide area network; and   a network functions virtualizer configured to provide virtualized network functions to the first local area network.   
     
     
         2 . The edge server of  claim 1 , wherein the communicator is further configured to forward request information from a gateway and smart device in the first local area network to a cloud-based gateway in the wide area network. 
     
     
         3 . The edge server of  claim 2 , wherein the communicator is configured to forward the request information to the cloud-based gateway on a basis of at least one of Advanced Message Queuing Protocol (AMQP) or Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocols. 
     
     
         4 . The edge server of  claim 1 , wherein the interlinker is configured to allow secure communication between the first local area network and the second local area network. 
     
     
         5 . The edge server of  claim 1 , wherein the network functions virtualizer is configured to provide virtualized network functions in response to a trigger of a service creation function provided by a graphical user interface. 
     
     
         6 . The edge server of  claim 1 , wherein the edge server further comprises a software defined networking (SDN) controller configured to provide SDN functions to the first local area network. 
     
     
         7 . The edge server of  claim 6 , wherein the SDN controller is configured to manage at least one gateway of the first local area network. 
     
     
         8 . The edge server of  claim 7 , wherein the SDN controller is configured to manage the at least one gateway of the first local area network in case the at least one gateway cannot be controlled by a SDN controller of the wide area network. 
     
     
         9 . The edge server of  claim 1 , wherein the edge server is configured to communicate with the first local area network via a gateway. 
     
     
         10 . The edge server of  claim 9 , wherein the gateway is an open platform communications—unified architecture (OPC-UA) compliant gateway. 
     
     
         11 . The edge server of  claim 1 , wherein the edge server is configured to provide a graphical user interface for allowing a user to interact with the edge server. 
     
     
         12 . A method for communicating between a first local area network, a wide area network and a second local area network, the method comprising:
 processing, by an edge server arranged at an edge between the first local area network and the wide area network, data provided by the first local area network;   communicating, by the edge server, with another edge server arranged at an edge between the second local area network and the wide area network; and   providing, by the edge server, virtualized network functions to the first local area network.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 communicating, by the edge server, with the another edge server in a secure manner.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 providing, by the edge server, virtualized network functions to the first local area network in response to a trigger of a service creation function provided by a graphical user interface.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 providing, by the edge server, software defined networking (SDN) functions to the first local area network.   
     
     
         16 . An edge server arranged at an edge between a first local area network and a wide area network, the edge server comprising:
 one or more processors; and   one or more memories coupled to the one or more processor and storing instructions for execution by the one or more processors to:
 process data provided by the first local area network; 
 communicate with another edge server arranged at an edge between a second local area network and the wide area network; and 
 process virtualized network functions to the first local area network. 
   
     
     
         17 . The edge server of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more memories stores the instructions for execution by the one or more processors further to:
 communicate with the another edge server in a secure manner.   
     
     
         18 . The edge server of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more memories stores the instructions for execution by the one or more processors further to:
 provide virtualized network functions to the first local area network in response to a trigger of a service creation function provided by a graphical user interface.   
     
     
         19 . The edge server of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more memories stores the instructions for execution by the one or more processors further to:
 provide software defined networking (SDN) functions to the first local area network.