Crowdsourced Edge: A Novel Networking Paradigm for the Collaborative Community

Edge computing established paradigms are prone to implicate solely powerful server-like edge nodes, in static or semi-static topologies, of centrally-controlled edge networks. In this paper, leveraging upon recent technological advancements and trends, we introduce a novel networking paradigm employing resources provided by independent crowd peers, within a zone of local proximity, to establish collaborative networks for edge computing. We call this paradigm the Crowdsourced Edge. We detail the architecture and characteristics of this novel paradigm, highlighting its unique characteristics and specific challenges, while also positioning it vis-a-vis the existing edge computing concretisations. Finally, we demonstrate the Crowdsourced Edge functionality by presenting an ongoing use case regarding a video-enhanced object search.