Intelligently pre-positioning and migrating compute capacity in an overlay network, with compute handoff and data consistency

Abstract

Edge server compute capacity demand in an overlay network is predicted and used to pre-position compute capacity in advance of application-specific demands. Preferably, machine learning is used to proactively predict anticipated compute capacity needs for an edge server region (e.g., a set of co-located edge servers). In advance, compute capacity (application instances) are made available in-region, and data associated with an application instance is migrated to be close to the instance. The approach facilitates compute-at-the-edge services, which require data (state) to be close to a pre-positioned latency-sensitive application instance. Overlay network mapping (globally) may be used for more long-term positioning, with short-duration scheduling then being done in-region as needed. Compute instances and associated state are migrated intelligently based on predicted (e.g., machine-learned) demand, and with full data consistency enforced.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising:
 configuring an overlay network to support processing of data using compute functionality that is migrate-able;   responsive to a given constraint, selectively migrating compute functionality to one or more edge-based machines in the overlay network; and   executing a data processing function on the migrated compute functionality.   
     
     
         17 . The method as described in  claim 16  wherein the given constraint is that data to be processed cannot be moved due to privacy or other security restrictions. 
     
     
         18 . The method as described in  claim 16  wherein the given constraint is receipt of a request that a given number of instances of the compute functionality be configured, wherein a determination of where to migrate the compute functionality is determined dynamically. 
     
     
         19 . The method as described in  claim 16  wherein the given constraint is receipt of an indication that a centralized computing location cannot then provide sufficient computing resources to execute the data processing function. 
     
     
         20 . The method as described in  claim 16  wherein the given constraint is receipt of an indication that a network resource necessary to support the data processing function is operating under a restriction and cannot perform the data processing function.